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April 11, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 RatzerRoad, Wayne, on Monday, April 15, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Henry T. Kopec, age 88 of Wayne died peacefully at home on Thursday, April 11, 2013.
Henry grew up in Wallington, NJ and graduated from East Rutherford High School with the class of 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served proudly during World War II and Korea. He was stationed on the USS Ramsay, DM-16 as well as the USS Olmstead, APA-188. He was in charge of shipboard mail and enjoyed the assignment because he was one of the few people who were permitted to leave the ship at every port they went to.
Upon his return from the Navy, Henry began a lengthy career with PSE&G. He was an Underground Supervisor and retired in 1981. He relaxed for about a year before embarking on his second career; as a custodian with the Wayne schools. He enjoyed his second career as it brought him into direct contact with teachers and students. He made many good friends at George Washington and Schuyler Colfax middle schools, including teachers, administrators, students, and the lunchroom staff. He retired from Wayne Schools in 1990.
Henry met his wife Irene (nee Tencza) when they were just young children. In fact, they were in the same kindergarten class together and had been good friends all through their school years. Henry proposed one evening while they were dancing at the Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove and they married on July 20, 1946. They rode the bus to Lake George, NY for a two week honeymoon and stayed at the Blue Water Inn, right on the lake. Upon their return, they settled in Wallington before 1952 when they built a home in Packanack Lake. They have lived in that same home ever since. They’ve traveled to more than fourteen countries, all throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Hawaii and they especially loved Greece. They’ve enjoyed sixty-six years together in what Irene describes as a beautiful and fun adventure.
Henry was never one to sit still and he always had projects going on around the house. He enjoyed yard work, tending to his lawn, and playing with his three beloved dogs. Henry enjoyed work on home fix-it projects with his son Ron, and being involved with his son Ted’s Boy Scout Troop. If family came to visit on a nice day, he would often get out the hose and wash their car. His son-in-law Steve recalls visiting from Ohio and shortly after arriving, Henry was washing their car, checking the tire pressure, and sometimes even changed the engine oil for him. Henry was just as devoted to his faith and as a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Packanack, you could count on seeing him at every Saturday Mass. He would arrive to church at least 30 minutes early and always parked in ‘his’ spot.
Henry is survived by his loving wife; Irene (nee Tencza), four children; Bernadine Kopec Zapytowski and her husband Steve of Kent, OH, Ron Kopec and his wife Sandy of Northvale, NJ, Henry (Ted) Kopec and his wife Karen of Arizona, and Marianne Kopec of Sandyston, NJ, four grandchildren; Michael Zapytowski and his wife Breann of Arizona, Catherine Zapytowski of Medina, OH, R.J. Kopec and Kaci Kopec both of Northvale, NJ, and two great-grandchildren; Sofia and Stella Zapytowski of Arizona.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 RatzerRoad, Wayne, on Monday, April 15, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
April 11, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 RatzerRoad, Wayne, on Monday, April 15, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Henry T. Kopec, age 88 of Wayne died peacefully at home on Thursday, April 11, 2013.
Henry grew up in Wallington, NJ and graduated from East Rutherford High School with the class of 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served proudly during World War II and Korea. He was stationed on the USS Ramsay, DM-16 as well as the USS Olmstead, APA-188. He was in charge of shipboard mail and enjoyed the assignment because he was one of the few people who were permitted to leave the ship at every port they went to.
Upon his return from the Navy, Henry began a lengthy career with PSE&G. He was an Underground Supervisor and retired in 1981. He relaxed for about a year before embarking on his second career; as a custodian with the Wayne schools. He enjoyed his second career as it brought him into direct contact with teachers and students. He made many good friends at George Washington and Schuyler Colfax middle schools, including teachers, administrators, students, and the lunchroom staff. He retired from Wayne Schools in 1990.
Henry met his wife Irene (nee Tencza) when they were just young children. In fact, they were in the same kindergarten class together and had been good friends all through their school years. Henry proposed one evening while they were dancing at the Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove and they married on July 20, 1946. They rode the bus to Lake George, NY for a two week honeymoon and stayed at the Blue Water Inn, right on the lake. Upon their return, they settled in Wallington before 1952 when they built a home in Packanack Lake. They have lived in that same home ever since. They’ve traveled to more than fourteen countries, all throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Hawaii and they especially loved Greece. They’ve enjoyed sixty-six years together in what Irene describes as a beautiful and fun adventure.
Henry was never one to sit still and he always had projects going on around the house. He enjoyed yard work, tending to his lawn, and playing with his three beloved dogs. Henry enjoyed work on home fix-it projects with his son Ron, and being involved with his son Ted’s Boy Scout Troop. If family came to visit on a nice day, he would often get out the hose and wash their car. His son-in-law Steve recalls visiting from Ohio and shortly after arriving, Henry was washing their car, checking the tire pressure, and sometimes even changed the engine oil for him. Henry was just as devoted to his faith and as a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Packanack, you could count on seeing him at every Saturday Mass. He would arrive to church at least 30 minutes early and always parked in ‘his’ spot.
Henry is survived by his loving wife; Irene (nee Tencza), four children; Bernadine Kopec Zapytowski and her husband Steve of Kent, OH, Ron Kopec and his wife Sandy of Northvale, NJ, Henry (Ted) Kopec and his wife Karen of Arizona, and Marianne Kopec of Sandyston, NJ, four grandchildren; Michael Zapytowski and his wife Breann of Arizona, Catherine Zapytowski of Medina, OH, R.J. Kopec and Kaci Kopec both of Northvale, NJ, and two great-grandchildren; Sofia and Stella Zapytowski of Arizona.
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