Obituary of Michael John Sendor

MICHAEL JOHN SENDOR Michael John Sendor, age 91, passed away peacefully on June 25th with his family by his side. Born on September 29,1921, he was one of seven children born to Jacob & Antoinette in Lackawanna, NY. He is survived by his brother Leonard and predeceased by brothers John and Stephen and sisters Stella Ciurzynski, Josephine Wierzba, and Antoinette Zablanski. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Panama Canal Zone and Galapagos Islands where he worked as a firefighter on the airfields and later on an aircraft carrier. Mike spent countless hours watching movies and reading books about World War II. He said it was because at the time he never got to see the" Big Picture" of what was happening and found it intriguing. Upon returning to the states, he was employed by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation where he worked on various jobs most notable on the electrical repair gang. He worked at "The Plant" from 1940 until his retirement in 1983. He made many lifelong friends there and looked forward to seeing some of them at the McKinley Mall after he retired. He married his wife Francis Eleanor Celani (Elli) on June 15, 1947. They celebrated their 67th Wedding Anniversary on June 15th. They have two children, Michael Jay Sendor (Sandra) of Colden, and Richard Allen Sendor (Sheryl Willard) of Eden. Mike moved his family to Eden, NY in 1958 where he would live the remainder of his years. Mike was a perfectionist. His home and yard were always meticulous. As a matter of fact he was cleaning his gutters on a ladder the day of his stroke. Mike has three grandchildren Tracy Woodrow, Aaron Sendor and Katie Smith and three great grandchildren Sarena Sendor, Colin and Caitlin Woodrow. Mike enjoyed trout fishing, watching all sorts of sports (particularly hockey and football), photography, Big Band music and taking long rides in the country. He taught his boys how to hunt and fish and would take them to auto racing events at Johnny's Speedway in North Collins, Lancaster Speedway (then called Niagara Dragway), and Holland Speedway. He also loved air shows and spent many a weekend taking his grandson Aaron to see them. Most of all though, Mike loved skiing. He started skiing at age 25 and taught his boys when they were 5 years of age. He skied with members of his family, including two of his great grandchildren until last winter at age 91. From age 70 on, he had season passes at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville. Although slowing down, he did ski twice this past ski season. Mike and his wife El are members of "The Glenwood Acres Ski Club" in Colden. Mike was a man of continual motion. You couldn't keep him off the roof even in his eighties and nineties. He was still taking drives in the country and last year they traveled as far as Pennsylvania. The rides usually included a stop somewhere for his favorite meal - roast beef. Mike was a member of the American Legion Newell -Faulkner Post 880 in Eden. A Memorial Mass was held Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Church. Burial, with full military honors, was held in the veteran's section of the Evergreen Cemetery in Eden. Arrangements were entrusted to Laing Funeral Home Inc, Eden, NY Words of sympathy may be left on www.LaingFuneralHome.com