John Roman Fedorka

John Roman ‘Chauncey’ Fedorka, 93, of Matamoras, a retired Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Car Inspector Foreman and longtime resident of the area, died peacefully on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, N.Y., surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 17, 1914 in Scranton, the son of the late Roman and the late Julia Hawrylko Fedorka. He was the widower of the late Katherine Olsen Fedorka, who died Aug. 14, 1993. He was a member of the Port Jervis Elks Lodge No. 645. An Army veteran of World War II, earning many medals, including 3 bronze stars and was a personal bodyguard for President Eisenhower. A sports legend in Port Jervis, having set many records in football as well as baseball and basketball, he later played semi-pro baseball for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Chauncey enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid fisherman. Known as “Poppi - to his loved ones,” he is survived by his four children, Lynn Mackey and her husband, Joseph of Murphy, N.C.; Nicholas Fedorka and his wife, Linda of Port Jervis, Barry Fedorka and Kathryn Fedorka both of Matamoras; six grandchidren: Melissa Rinaldi and her husband, Michael, Jason Fedorka, Lisa Fedorka,: Trisha Fedorka, John M. Fedorka and Kelly Fedorka; two great-grandchildren: Claudia and Chase Rinaldi. He is further survived by three sisters-in-law, Josephine Fedorka, Astrid Lyons and Mary Fedorka, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his three brothers: Michael, Nicholas and Charles and his sister, Helen Scales. Friends may call at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main Street, Port Jervis on Sunday, Dec 23, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 24, at 11:00 AM at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Jervis, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Pike County Unit, 204 E. Harford St., Milford, P.A. 18337 Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, please visit www.grayparkerfuneralhome.com .