John J. Urbanski, 87, of Danvers, died Saturday, July 14, 2012 following a lengthy illness. He was the husband of the late Phyllis (Arnold) Urbanski, with whom he shared fifty-five years of marriage.
Born in Salem on Feb. 13, 1925, he was the son of the late Francis and Anastasia (Dobrzcnecka) Urbanski. He was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1942. Mr. Urbanski then served honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
For nearly forty years, he was employed as a freight conductor and train master on the B&M Railrad.
A Danvers resident for more than fifty-five years and a communicant of Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church, he was a member of the Polish Club of Danvers, the Herman A. Spear Post 331 American Legion in Beverly, and the Salem VFW Witch City Post 1524.
He is survived by two daughters, Joan Fernandes of Danvers and Patricia Gardner and her husband Donald of Lynn, a son James Urbanski and his wife Debbie of Danvers, eight grandchildren, Jay Fernandes, John Fernandes and his wife Wendy, Judy Higgins and her husband Michael, Jessica Fernandes, Adam Gardner and his wife Domini, Alyssa Deveau, Renee Perez and her husband Alex, and Ryan Urbanski, four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Dylan, Marissa, and Nicholas, his brothers and sister, Theodore, Paul, Thomas, and Regina, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Edward Urbanski.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 9AM in Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Thursday from 5-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.