Obituary of Andrew Charles Shemelewski

Andrew Charles Shemelewski, 81, of Wilkes-Barre, passed on Monday, August 11, 2014, in the Celtic Hospice Unit of Geisinger South Hospital, Wilkes-Barre. Born in Wilkes-Barre on July 1, 1933 he was one of four children to the late Joseph and Emma Bonk Shemelewski. He attended local schools in Wilkes-Barre, but left to join the service in 1952. Andrew enlisted with the United States Army and served in the Korean War as a Corporal in " K" Company of the 17th Infantry. After returning home, Andrew started to work as a plumber in the Arrow Lake area. In 1965, Andrew married his love the former Eleanore Zalewski, who passed in 2004. Together they raised five children in their forty eight years of marriage. When the children were young, Andrew started to work as a carpenter, and became a member of the Carpenters Union, Local 514. He worked on numerous projects over the years with a variety of construction companies, and learned some of lives most important lessons that he passed onto his children. He was hardworking, loving, and a devoted father to his children. As a skilled carpenter, his sons certainly appreciated all they have learned from his experiences. He was supportive and provided the needed direction to make sure his children had more than life's necessities, working right alongside them to help achieve their dreams and reach their goals. Andrew was a member of the Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Plains. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting and valued the time spent with family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Eleanore, and his brother Joseph, who Andrew escorted home from the Korean War after being killed in action. Surviving are his five children: Joseph and his wife Deborah, Hudson; Donna DeNee and her husband Jacque, Plains; Andrew, Bear Creek; Ronald and his wife Kathy, Plains; and Maryann Bonivina, Wilkes-Barre; grandchildren Michael DeNee, Michele Stiner and her husband David, Amy; Andrew J. III; Amber; and Jennifer Draht; great grandchildren Natasha and Jessica Stiner; Brother Robert, Wilkes-Barre, and sister Ms. Maryann Shemelewski. Funeral Services for Andrew will be held this Thursday, August 14, 2014, starting at 9:00 am from the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc.,55 Stark Street, Plains. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30am in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. John Boyle. Interment will be held in the parish cemetery with military honors by the United States Army. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. For directions to the services or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.