In Memory of Alexander Heretz,

Obituary

Alexander Heretz, 94, of Utica, died on Friday, April 13, 2018, at the Presbyterian Home.

He was born on June 7, 1923, in Lubiascz, Ukraine, a son of the late Ivan and Anna Maystruk Heretz. He spent the early portion of his life in Ukraine with his family; later they were held in Nazi Internment Camps until they were liberated by the US Army. During the post-war years in Germany, he earned the opportunity to drive supply trucks for the US Army and was very proud of this. He eventually migrated to New York state, along with his family, and received his United States citizenship in 1956. He was always a proud and grateful American. He married Pauline Naaykens on February 7, 1954, in Utica (deceased April 8, 2014).

Family and church were valued above all else in his life. Alexander was a member of the Holy Cross Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Utica, where he had served as President of the Parish Council. He remained active in the parish until the church closed. Most recently, he was a member of St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Herkimer. He loved to read his Svoboda, a Ukrainain newspaper, along with biographies and history books (especially American history). He enjoyed working with his hands, and was a drill press operator at Chicago Pneumatics for 35 years.

He is survived by his two daughters, Anna Romanowski and her husband, Thomas, of Dewitt NY and Katherine Sakkis and her husband, John, of Tampa, FL; grandchildren, Dr. Rianna Romanowski, Lara Romanowski , Nicholas Sakkis and his fiancee, Stephanie; great grandson, Alexander Sakkis; siblings, Peter Heretz, Michael Heretz and his wife, Alla, Vera Rizwaniuk, Zoya Lucenko and her husband, Michael, Raissa Johnson and her husband, Robert, sister in law, Natalie Heretz; and godchildren Halyna Korhun, Natalka Murray and Michael Lucenko, along with many other nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, John Heretz and brother, Rodion Heretz.

The family would like to offer heartfelt gratitude to the Presbyterian Home, especially the Willow Unit staff for the wonderful care given to Alexander.

The funeral will be on Wednesday April 18 at 11:00am at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 324 Moore Ave., Herkimer. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Calling hours will be on Tuesday April 17 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford. Parastas Service will be on Tuesday at the Funeral Home at 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider the Presbyterian Home in memory of Alexander.