Paul Pekunece, World War II Vet, Dies at 89

Obituary as it appears on John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland:

Paul Pekunece, 89, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, February 13, 2015 following a period of declining health. He was born in Lawrence, MA on May 29, 1925 the son of the late Nikifor Pekunece and Annie (Diniswich) Pekunece.

Paul was the beloved husband for 59 years of the late Sylvia Sonia (Gens) Pekunece who died on August 13, 2013. He was the devoted father of Steven Pekunece and his wife Dawn M. Pekunece of Holliston and Dana L. Pekunece and his longtime companion Monica Mastrangelo of Boca Raton, FL. Cherished grandfather of Craig C. Pekunece of San Diego, CA and Jamie R. Pekunece of Los Angeles, CA. Also survived by his sister-in-law Betty Young and her husband Elliott of Natick; uncle of Diane and Susan Young of Natick; Marsha Whelan of Stoneham and Michael Gens of Jaffrey NH. Paul has been a resident of Wayland for over 50 years and spent his formative years in Lawrence where he graduated from Lawrence High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army with the Headquarters Battery 2274th Hawaiian Seacoast Artillery Command during World War II. Upon his discharge in 1946, he was able to attend Burdett Business School in Boston on the GI Bill. He had a long and distinguished career of 30 years with the Department of Defense at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford retiring in 1984.

He was an avid golfer, enjoyed watching all of the New England sports teams, and especially loved playing cards with his wife. He was devoted to his family and will be greatly missed by all of them.

Private family services will be held at the convenience of his family and he will be interred next to his wife at the Pekunece family lot in Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland. In lieu of flowers, his family kindly suggests that memorial gifts in Pauls memory may be sent to the Society for the Blind, 1238 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 and would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland.