Andrew Bednar Sr.

Andrew "Oc" Bednar, 94, of Bethlehem, died peacefully Sunday, January 1, 2012, in his home. Born November 26, 1917, in Lebanon, PA, he was raised in Siroke, Czechoslovakia, and returned to the U.S. in 1937. He was the son of the late Fabian and Helena Smolko Bednar. He was the husband of the late Sophie Timko Bednar, who died in 2008. They were married 62 years.

Andrew was employed by the Bethlehem Steel as a repairman in the #6 Machine Shop. He served in the Navy during WW II from 1943-1946 and participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He was a member of the former Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, USWA Local 2599, and the Zenska Jednota.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Andrew Bednar Jr. and wife, Debra, of Bethlehem; daughter, Lucy Bednar and husband, Richard Gaughran, of Harrisonburg, Va.; granddaughter, Jennifer Harayda and husband, Kevin, of Bethlehem; great-granddaughters, Sydney and Charlotte Harayda. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Joseph and Stefan Bednar; and sister, Anna Adamcik.

Visitation will be held in the Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem on Wednesday, January 4, from 7 to 9 p.m., and on Thursday, January 5, from 9 to 10 a.m. in the church. A 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will follow in Incarnation of Our Lord Parish, 617 Pierce St., Bethlehem, 18015. Burial will be in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

Memorials may be made to the VNA of St. Luke's, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 200, Bethlehem, PA 18017, or to the church.