WORCESTER___Stephen P. Monovich, 88, of Worcester, died on Wednesday March 22nd in St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rita M. (Romanowski) Monovich. Stephen leaves three daughters, Barbara J. Splane and her husband Joseph D. of Charlton; Stephanie J. Schwarzenberger and her husband Gary of Olathe, KS, and Elaine M. Aubin and her fiancée James C. Dryden of Leicester; a brother, Anthony Stefek of Inkster, MI, and a sister Kathryn Koscso of Garden City, MI, 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Thomas A. Romanowski and John F. Romanowski, both of Worcester; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters. Stephen was born in Allison, PA, son of Edward and Anna (Mizerak) Monovich and lived in Worcester since 1945.
Mr.Monovich was a World War II Veteran of the US Army, 4th Armor Division. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart. He also received 4 Bronze stars. In his youth, he was a well known baseball player in Southwest Pennsylvania. Prior to moving to Worcester, Stephen worked in construction and was a coal miner. He worked for the City of Worcester, Public Works Departments for 17 years before retiring in 1974. He was a former member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, the Vernon Hill Post American Legion, the 4th Armored Division Association and a longtime member of the former Post 5 American Legion.
The funeral will held on Saturday, March 25, from HENRY-DIRSA FUNERAL HOME, 33 Ward St., with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 34 Ward St. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery. A calling hour will be on Saturday March 25 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.in the funeral home.