John Antonuk
...Navy Signalman during WWII; 90
TEWKSBURY - John Antonuk, age 90, a WWII Veteran, died unexpectedly at his West Palm Beach, Florida, winter home on Monday morning, January 5. He was the former husband of the late Sophie Antonuk, and the late Joanna Antonuk.
He was raised in the West End of Boston, and Somerville, and was son of the late Samuel and Lynna Antonuk. He retired to Arizona, in 1976, and returned to Tewksbury in 2003. He had wintered in West Palm Beach in Florida, since his return to Massachusetts.
He was a member of Christ the King, Ukranian Church in Forest Hills, and a former communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Boston's West End.
During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman aboard the USS Monticello, and the USS Valaria. He was the oldest of five brothers who served concurrently during the war.
He began his career as a steel cutter for the A.O. Wilson Steel Erectors, and then became a shipfitter at the Boston Navy Yard. He finished his work career and retired from the maintenance department at Babson College.
He is survived by a brother, Philip Antonuk with whom he had resided for the past 6 years in Tewksbury and Florida; a sister-in-law, Mary (Pecola) Antonuk of Billerica; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late Joseph Antonuk, Michael Antonuk, and James Antonuk, who was killed in England during WWII; and brother-in-law of the late Florence (Yurewicz) Antonuk, and Olga (Schuster) Antonuk.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday January 10, in Christ the King Ukrainian Church, Boston, MA. Burial with Navy honors followed at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of donor's choice.