Obituary of John B. Piechnik

John B. Piechnik, 94, died peacefully on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the Daughters of Sarah Senior Community following a brief illness.  Born in Albany, NY on October 19, 1923 he was the son of the late Walenty and Magdalene Czernicki Piechnik.

A lifelong resident, John attended St. Casimir’s Catholic School and was a graduate of Albany High School.  He served proudly in the United States Army from 1942 until 1946 with the 315th Infantry Regiment.  John was at the Battle of Normandy and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.  On May 9, 2014 he was honored with “The French Legion of Honor Award” for his bravery during WWII. It is the highest award the French can bestow to a non-native or French civilian.  He was employed for the United States Postal Service until his retirement and was a devout Catholic.

On April 23, 1949 he was united in marriage to Mary E. McKeon Piechnik.  That union lasted 55 years until her passing on July 1, 2004.  He was also predeceased by his siblings, Rose Glenkowski, Johanna “Jenny” Tenczar, Stanley Piechnik and Vincent Piechnik.

He is survived by his six children, John Piechnik and his wife Nikki of Slingerlands, NY, Diane Briggs and her husband Ronald of Amsterdam, NY, Michelle O’Brien and her husband James of Loudonville, NY, Michael Piechnik and his wife Lorraine of Apex, NC, Judy Piechnik of Gansevoort, NY and Jeffrey Piechnik and his wife Carol of Central Bridge, NY; twelve grandchildren, Lindsay, Mary, John, Benjamin, Tommy, Jimmy, Michael, Chelsea, Katie, Kristi, Abigail (Christopher) and Dehlia; two great grandchildren, Taryn and Jack.  He is also survived by his companion of recent years, Ginny VanZandt; nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10:30a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, 607 Central Avenue, Albany, NY.  Burial will follow in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery with military honors.  Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 4- 7p.m. at the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 N. Allen Street, Albany, NY.  Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to The Fisher House Foundation www.fisherhouse.org  or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY.  Please visit the online memorial at www.brbsfuneral.com