Tony and Greg, 1970
Sofia didn't make the trip to Buffalo with me -- too long, too much for her at this age -- and I'm sad that she only met her great-grandfather once, when she was just six weeks old. But we were able to send pictures on a regular basis and we had hopes of traveling to see him and great-grandma next month. Life doesn't always cooperate. I would have liked him to see up close how she has grown -- just to see him smile and watch her play.
But now he has a front-row seat to watch her grow. And I hope they bring him all the kielbasa with Weber's horseradish mustard and Genny Cream Ale he likes right to his seat. Please make that on rye with extra horseradish, St. Peter, and if you wouldn't mind, some hard-boiled eggs on the side, too. He's earned it.
This is Sofia's Web page, but if I can make an exception for a day, here are some thoughts that I was able to share on behalf of my family at the funeral service on Monday, April 24:
My grandfather, Anthony Sukiennik, built many types of cabinets and pieces of furniture for homes all over North Tonawanda, Western New York, Massachusetts, Georgia – maybe some places we don’t know. He never advertised his work – word of mouth was enough. And when asked to work on another project, he never hesitated or said “no.” Members of our family heard it over and over again yesterday during the visitation – his friends came up to us and said “We have so many things in our home that Tony made.”
And yet in the midst of all this work, my grandfather was a sensitive and a gentle soul with a gleam in his eye and a laugh no one could mistake for anyone else’s. And about that gleam in his eye – if you were at the visitation and looked at the pictures, you say that it sparked the brightest when he was with his children and their children – his grandchildren – later in life.
He married his wife of sixty-five years, Julia – my grandmother – in 1940, and with her, built a strong and loving marriage. He built a garage on the property at 1149 Ruie Road and the family lived in the apartment above while he built the house. And he worked hard to give his three children – David, Bruce and Corrine – a better life, and their children in turn.
On behalf of our family we would like to thank all of you for your kind words of comfort and sharing of our sorrow through these past few days. Your words of encouragement and fond remembrances of Anthony have helped us through this difficult time and helped us to celebrate the truly remarkable life he lived.
In Polish, the name Sukiennik means dressmaker, or tailor – literally, one who takes plain cloth and makes into fine garments. Or, another way, one who takes raw materials – like wood – and turns them into something functional and beautiful.
Life and faith were not spectator sports for Anthony Sukiennik. He was a doer, in his element and happiest at work helping others. A builder. A husband. A father. A friend. A Christian. A mentor.
He helped build this very church, as a charter member of St. Joseph’s Parish and a member of its Holy Name Society. He built the baptismal font, welcoming new members to our faith, and served as an usher for many years.
It is altogether fitting that Anthony Sukiennik was a builder of St. Joseph’s Church, for St. Joseph was his role model – a carpenter, devoted father, a man of great faith.
And my grandfather never asked for anything in return, never complained about how hard he had to work, punching in at factory jobs and hunching over his table saw, and all the while taking care of his children and remaining active in parish life his entire life. In a world where there is a pervasive sense of entitlement, here was a man who asked for nothing – and worked for everything.
Now, my grandfather has the rest that our Savior has promised us – the eternal reward of a life lived not only in faith, but faith in action. Now he can be together with the members of our family that have gone before him. And he has given us all a great example to follow.
That’s a high standard to match. But Anthony Sukiennik, my grandfather, was fond of saying “there’s no such word as can’t.”
I for one think he was right.
