Henry J. Cerny, 88

03/03/2008

HILLSDALE, N.Y. - Henry J. Cerny, 88, of Holm Road died Monday morning, March 3, 2008, at his home. Born in Queens on May 24, 1919, the son of John and Bonida Linek Cerny, he graduated from schools there and later attended Pratt Institute of Technology in New York. He moved to Hillsdale in 1975. A Navy veteran of World War II, he enlisted on May 8, 1944, and on May 26, 1946, was honorably discharged as a water tender, third class. He served in the Pacific theater and received the American Theater, Victory and Asiatic Pacific medals. Mr. Cerny was employed by the New York City Department of Sanitation as a chief mechanic for 27 years, retiring in 1975. Before entering the service, he worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard building battleships. He was known for always helping out his friends and neighbors, and he liked to fix things, having a special knack for fixing anything mechanical. He also loved to work in his vegetable garden. Above all else, Mr. Cerny cherished spending time with his family. He and his wife, the former Alice Goetke, were married on May 16, 1948, at St. Virgilius' Church in Queens. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, John Cerny of East Chatham and Robert Cerny of Hillsdale; three daughters, Janet Lamontanary of East Taconic, Mary Ray of Hillsdale and Clare Fabozzi of East Schodack; a sister, Johanna Louvar of Charlottsville, Va., eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother and another sister. FUNERAL NOTICE - Services for Henry J. Cerny will be conducted Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. from Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington by the Rev. William Murphy, pastor St. Peter's Church. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 6, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia Greene through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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Henry J. Cerny, 88

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