John A.

Tkaczuk

At 95 years of age, John passed away on Wednesday Oct. 14th at the Falmouth hospital with his loving daughters at his side.  Born and raised in Boston's West End, he was the beloved son of the late Alexander and Karolina Tkaczuk. John attended and was graduated from Boston English High School.  During WW II he enlisted into the US Navy on Nov. 18, 1942.  During the war he was an Aviation Ordinance Man, 1st Class Petty Officer, serving onboard the USS Wasp & USS Altamaha.  He was honorably discharged in 1946.  After returning home he was soon wed to Irene F. (Flower) and settled in Chelsea to raise a family of one son and two daughters.  John worked for 38 years as a Quality Assurance Inspector at GE in Everett.  He would also spend 17 years as a US Naval Reserve Officer at NAS So. Weymouth.  There he was assigned US Navy Blimp Unit ZP-911. While returning from a training mission at "Gitmo" Cuba the airship was struck by lightning off of Cape Hatteras and went down into the ocean.  John, using a pocket knife would cut an escape route out of the sinking airship allowing the crew safely exit into the waters.  The crew was recovered by a fishing trawler 18 hours later.  Notably this was the first naval airship disaster were all of the crew survived.  From that day on he was always known to carry that pocket knife on his person.  John was a longtime devoted parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church where he would usher at weekend Masses, volunteer at annual Parish Bazaar's and would call bingo for over 35 years.  He was also a member at St. Andrews BBC and the Polish American Veterans, Post 13, Chelsea.  John resided in Chelsea for nearly 53 years.     After retiring John and Irene moved to Peabody and would spend their winters in Port St. Lucie for 33 years.  In Florida he belonged to Polish social clubs in Port St Lucie and Vero Beach, enjoying evenings polka dancing with his wife.  John was widowed on October 15 ^th 2018 at the passing of his beloved wife Irene after sharing 71 years of wedded bliss.  He was also predeceased by his parents and his only sister, Mary Kane of No. Miami FL.  He was the forever devoted father of Frances C. "Cookie" Tkaczuk of Mashpee, Paula J. Kordis and her husband Ted of Peabody and the late Frederick "Fred" Tkaczuk.  Dear brother of the late Mary Kane and loving brother-in-law of Wanda Carroccino of Lynn and her late husband Joseph A. Carroccino.  Cherished grandfather of Matthew Kordis of Beverly, John Andrew Kordis and his wife Lindsey of Saugus and Christopher Kordis of Peabody.  He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

ARRANGEMENTS:  A private family farewell and Funeral Mass will be held followed by graveside prayers and interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. We continue to encourage family and friends who wish, to offer condolences at this time by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card, see the links below.

DONATIONS:  Should friends desire, contributions in John's memory should be directed to the MGH Gastrointestinal Cancers Genetics Program. C/O MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua St., Ste. 540, Boston, MA 02114.  Please make checks payable to "Massachusetts General Hospital" and note "in memory of John A. Tkaczuk in the memo line. Or visit;

https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/

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