John Droniak

John “Jake” Droniak, 73, of Shelton, passed away peacefully after a long courageous battle with coronary heart disease at Bridgeport Hospital on November 2.

He was survived by a son, Douglas Droniak and his wife, Jane, of Newtown.

Born in Hazelton, Penn., son of the late Harry and Mary (Rock) Droniak, he was a resident of Shelton for 34 years. Mr Droniak was a retired leadman as a spray painter for the American Chain and Cable Company with 38 years of service and at the US Baird Crop for six years. He was a World War II veteran of the US Navy and past president of the International Machinists Union at American Chain and Cable Co. He was also a member of the Sikorsky Retirees Friendship Club, the American Russian Citizens Club of Shelton, the Shelton and Derby Seniors, and was a church officer, having served as treasurer, and also serving as president from 1962 to 1967 of the Fathers and Sons Club of St John Church.

His hobbies included bowling, pistol shooting on a team, gardening, and dancing. He was an all around handyman, and an avid traveler. He loved his family most of all, spending most of his time with his children and grandchildren. He loved helping people and always had time to lend a hand.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Lillian (Chirsky) Droniak; another son, Gregory Droniak and his wife, Jodie, of Monroe; a daughter, Cynthia Butler and her husband, William, of North Hollywood, Calif.; two sisters, Helen Bopko and her husband, George, of Monroe, and Magdalene Komar and her husband, Henry of West Hazelton, Penn.; two granddaughters, Kimberly and Allison Droniak; three grandsons, Kyle, Curtis, and Kevin Droniak; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister, Nicholas and Michael Droniak and Anna Grimm.

Funeral services were held on November 7, in the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, and in St John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport. Interment with full military honors was in St John Cemetery, Stratford.

The Newtown Bee       November 10, 2000