Joseph Sheleheda of Solomons, MD passed away on May 3, 2012.
He was born in New Alexandria, PA on December 7, 1915 to immigrants from Europe, Wasyl Sheleheda and Leona Narbesky Sheleheda.
Joseph was preceded in death by his son, James M. Sheleheda; brother, Mike Sheleheda and sisters, Alice Schieb and Helen Jackson.
Joe is survived by his wife Stella. They were recently recognized by Marriage Encounter as the longest married couple in Maryland at 73 years. They were members of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church since relocating from Ambridge, PA, to be close to family, in 2004. Prior to that they were lifetime members of SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA.
In addition to his loving wife, Stella, Joe is survived by two sons, Joseph W. Sheleheda-wife, Christine, who live in Las Vegas, NV; son, William D. Sheleheda-wife, Doris, from Lusby MD, and his daughter, Stella Marie Sheleheda, who resides in Carpentersville, IL. Also, six grandchildren, Alan Sheleheda and his wife, Becky; Karen Sheleheda; and David Sheleheda and his wife, Susan, all of whom reside in Las Vegas NV; David Pucciarella and his wife Sherry, St. Leonard, MD; Anthony Pucciarella and his wife, Suzanne, Lusby, MD and Beth McClenahan and her husband, Michael, Landsdown, VA. Joe and Stella have thirteen great-grandchildren.
Joe and Stella were residents of Harmony Township, PA from 1943, until 2004. Joe worked and retired from H. H. Robertson after 38 years in 1979 as a Die Maintenance Machinist. There he and Stella enjoyed the view of his back yard where he nurtured a variety of beautiful flowers. He was a member of the U. S. Navy, serving is in World War II. In Ambridge, he was a member of the American Legion, Post 341, the Eagles and the Ukrainian National Association, 161. Joe was an life time sports fan, particularly the Pittsburgh teams. He was conversant in football, baseball, golf and horse racing, even in his advance age. Joe was an avid writer. A touchstone for family and friends, he regularly penned numerous letters to pen pals and relatives, but mostly shut in friends, as distant as Poland, that were contemporaries from his life in Pennsylvania. Encouraged by his daughter in-law, Doris, he also left two journals and had just started a third of his life and times as remembrances of the stories that he often told his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He will be truly missed by legions of relatives, friends and acquaintances, from bank tellers to grocery and pharmacy clerks.