Joseph Smolec

Joseph Smolec

Nov. 30, 1921 to June 28, 2011

Joe kept busy keeping a nice house and yard, cooking his perfected chicken soup recipe and tirelessly visiting and caring for his wife, Hazel, who lives at the Evergreen Assisted Living home, right up until the day he passed away at his home.

Joe was a veteran of World War II, played his tenor sax in the Army band, and had his own band, The Stardusters.

Joe and Hazel established Smolec Body Shop in the early ‘60s and Joe was known around the area for his talents in auto body repair. In addition to his incredible work ethic that he believed in and passed onto his daughters and grandsons, Joe was a story teller with a great sense of humor.

His four grandsons learned the very basics of life from their beloved “Pappap”. There weren’t many projects that Joe wouldn’t tackle – always resourceful, artistic, a true jack of all trades.

Joe is survived by Hazel, his wife of 67 years; his daughters, Janice Smolec, MD of Honolulu, Hawaii and Jo Marie Smolec, PhD (Ted Olson) of San Diego, CA; and his four grandsons, Aaron and Jay Angotti, and Logan and Blade Olson, as well as his two sisters, Vi Hedrick (Jim) of Eighty Four and Dolores Beck (Stan) of Bentleyville.

There will be no visitation. A memorial mass for Joe will be celebrated at Ave Maria Parish in Bentleyville on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10 AM. Arrangements in care of the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, 809 Main Street, Bentleyville, 724-239-2255. Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message, order flowers and share photos.