Yolo County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....SONDEJ , Martin Joseph April 23 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/ca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Peggy B. Perazzo pbperazzo@comcast.net June 6, 2004, 4:43 pm "The Davis Enterprise," Thursday, April 29, 2004 Martin J. Sondej Martin Joseph Sondej, a two-year resident of the Davis area, died April 23, 2004, at the Sierra-Greenfield Care Center. He was 87. Born on Oct. 14, 1916, in Passaic, N.J., to parents Carolyn Kowal of Poland and Andrew Sondej of Austria, he lived most of his life on the East Coast. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1936 where he met his first wife, Leona. He enlisted in the Army infantry in 1935 in Harrisburg, Pa., and was released at Fort McDowell in 1937. After his release, he worked as an electroplater. In 1943, he re-enlisted in the Army as a construction equipment mechanic and demolition specialist in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He separated from the service in 1945 after being decorated with the World War II victory medal, American theater ribbon, and an European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon. He resumed his life in Pennsylvania and Connecticut with a family of one son, Robert Martin Sondej, a current resident of Sherrard, Ill., and daughter, Cynthia Sondej Kerr, now a resident of Davis. He worked for the Electrolux Corp. in Old Greenwich as a foreman in metal finishing and retired in July 1979 after 41 years. He divorced and remarried in 1968 to Theresa Romaniello, who had three children: Barbara Brouilletteo of Arizona, Mary Lou Moker of Connecticut and the late Lennie Romaniello of Connecticut. Sondej and his wife Tess enjoyed many days at the White Eagle Club in Connecticut, where he held many offices in the club and was honored as the 1975 Man of the Year. He enjoyed dancing, cards and the company of others. In addition, he was a member of the Moose and the Veterans of Foreign Wars service organization in Connecticut. He was known for his calm demeanor, never requesting anything and always making the best of all situations, his family said. He loved dogs, music and children. While in California, he received many smiles from spending time with his granddaughters, Heather and Jenny Kerr of Davis. He was preceded in death by his wives, Leona in 1981, and Tess in 2002. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Frank, Joseph and Walter Honcz, and John Sondej, and sister, Mary Wydan. He is survived by his brother, Henry Honcz of Connecticut. He will be remembered by his family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews in California, Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois. A funeral Mass will be held in his honor at St. James Catholic Church, 14th and B streets, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a reception in the Memorial Center. All friends of the family are welcome. Burial will be private. The family wishes to thank the Pastoral Care Program of St. James, Yolo Hospice the VA/Mather, Citizens Who Care, and the various caregivers at Sierra and in the community for their spiritual and physical care. Additional Comments: Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street, Davis, CA 95616. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb