Chester C. Czarniak

Chester C. “Chet” Czarniak, a long-time resident of Norvelt and former tavern owner and school bus driver for 25 years, died Thursday Dec. 31 in St. Anne Home, Greensburg. He was 92. Born Sept. 21, 1923 in Mount Pleasant, he was a son of the late Andrew and Felicia (Karwoska) Czarniak. He attended Hurst High School before joining the Civilian Conservation Corps as a 17-year-old in 1941. Chester was inducted into the U.S. Army February, 1942 serving in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, working as part of the effort to clear and maintain an airstrip for U.S. forces. After his military discharge in December, 1945, Mr. Czarniak worked in local coal mines before becoming a dispatcher for the Associated Transport trucking company in Monroeville for many years. He followed that up with a career change as a co-owner/operator of T&C Pub, the former Grabiak’s Tavern on Mt. Pleasant Road near Mutual. He eventually became the sole owner of the bar, renamed “Chet’s”, before selling in the late 1980s. Mr. Czarniak had lived in Norvelt since 1962. He was a member of St. Florian Roman Catholic Church (United), as well as the former St. Stanislaus parish. He previously had served as a lector at both churches. Through the years he held membership in a number of clubs and organizations, including the Polish Falcons, VFW, Amvets, Elks and American Legion. He had a rich sense of humor. On bus trips to excursions to Lancaster or the Jersey shore, for example, he often would be invited to the microphone to share jokes with his fellow passengers. For 66 years he was married to Eleanor Suscovich Czarniak, who survives her husband. He also is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Chet and Terri Wolk Czarniak of Clifton, Va.; a granddaughter, Lindsay Czarniak Melvin (wife of Craig Melvin) of Westport, Ct.; a grandson, Andrew Czarniak (husband of Aimee Hollander) of Houma, La.; and one great-grandson, Delano Joseph Melvin. Also surviving are one brother, Edward Czarniak of Centerline, Mich., two sisters, Frances Lipko of Connellsville and Bernice Tylka of Mount Pleasant, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Andrew Czarniak, and four sisters, Florence Szehula, Mary Rogers, Helen Sowka and Stephanie Cammerici. The family extends its heartfelt thanks for the support and care provided by the staff and residents at St. Anne Home and staff at Senior Independence. Friends will be received 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday in the Jay A. Hoffer Funeral Home, 2245 Mt. Pleasant Road, Norvelt. Transfer prayers will be 9:15 A.M. Monday in the funeral home followed by his funeral mass 10 A.M. in the St. Florian Church, with Rev. John A. Sedlak as celebrant. Interment to follow in St. Stanislaus cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Anne Home, 685 Angela Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601