Edward Slonecki would often joke that he was “the man,” but that’s exactly what he was to his sons.
“We never really had a need for anything because my father and my mother were both there to love us and support us,” Chad Slonecki said. “If he wasn’t there to raise us, my brother and I wouldn’t be the men we are today.”
Growing up, Chad Slonecki spent plenty of time with his father, some of his favorite memories being when his dad would take him and his brother Tim to the Greensburg Country Club to sled and spending time at the demolition derby in New Alexandria.
And for anybody who knew him, Chad Slonecki said, remembering “the man” should bring a smile to their faces.
“It was always a joke whenever we would be together or during a family function and joking and laughing around,” he said. “It was always something he would love to say.”
Edward C. Slonecki of Fayetteville died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at his home. He was 70.
Born in Jeannette on Jan. 7, 1950, he was the son of Casimir and Katherine Shedlock Slonecki.
Despite moving to Fayetteville, Mr. Slonecki had a love for Jeannette, and he had the collection to prove it.
“He had a lot of interest in collecting different types of Jeannette glass and just different things that had to do with Jeannette and its history,” Chad Slonecki said, adding that most of Mr. Slonecki’s family lived in the city. Mr. Slonecki eventually raised his sons in the house he grew up in.
Coming from a military family, Mr. Slonecki also had a passion for learning about the Civil War, a task made easier by the close proximity to Gettysburg.
Mr. Slonecki served in the Navy during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1973.
“He always wanted to talk to everybody about him being a veteran and him being in the Vietnam War,” Chad Slonecki said. “He was very proud to have been a veteran; he was very proud to have served his country.”
Prior to retiring, Mr. Slonecki worked at Morris Young in Greensburg as a service technician. There he would repair ice cream, food and beverage equipment.
In his free time, Mr. Slonecki enjoyed gardening, bicycling and yard sales.
In addition to Chad and Tim Slonecki, Mr. Slonecki is survived by brothers Jim Slonecki and Joe Slonecki, and a sister, Mary Ann Gorinski.
Friends were received Monday at John V. Graziano Funeral Home, 228 North Second St., Jeannette.
A blessing service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Interment with military honors accorded by the VFW Post No. 33 Honor Guard will follow at Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.
