Latham- John Ihnatolya, 96 years old died August 13, 2015 at the Teresian House surrounded by his loving wife of 69 years and his devoted sons and daughter-in-laws.

John was born in the borough of Minersville, Pa., the son of the late John Ihnatolya Sr. and Mary Havelesko Ihnatolya. He graduated from Cass Township High School in Primrose Pa., and worked as a Coal Miner in Pa. from 1937-1941.

He was a U.S. Army Air Corp Veteran of World War II from May 1941 through July 1945 serving overseas for 36 months under the British 8th Army in North Africa, and the American Army serving in India, Burma, Naples, Foggia, and Rome-Arno-Tunsia. He received the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, China Freedom Medal and a ribbon with four battle stars.

Upon discharged from the service in 1945 he came to Troy, N.Y. to work at Rath Brothers Garage in Brunswick and later Johnson’s garage. He graduated from the Television and Radio Repair program at Hudson Valley Community College. He worked at General Electric in Schenectady from 1952 to 1958. From 1959 until his retirement in 1984 he worked for the Postal Service at the Watervliet Post Office.

He was a member of the Colonie Elks, the Colonie Senior Citizens and the American Legion Post of Albany. He was an active member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church of Watervliet.

During his retirement years he enjoyed bowling, trips to Topsail, N.C. and Cape Cod, Mass. He enjoyed helping his sons with different projects in their homes and being with his grandsons and great grandchildren.

He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather (Gida) and great grandfather.

A special thanks to Dr James Walders from Community Care Physicians for his many years of compassionate care. To the staff on the 4th floor B wing at the Teresian House the family would like to say thank you for the comforting care they provided John during his last few months. Also a special thank you to Wilma for her devoted care she provided to John prior to him going into the Teresian House.


Survivors include his wife, Jane (Palczuk), his sons, Jack (Meg) and Joe (Shirley); his grandsons, John (Beth), Nicholas (Annemarie) and Joseph (Christine) and his great grandchildren, Will, Patrick, Libby, Emily and Olivia and one great granddaughter expected in November and his sister Ann (Tom) Pogash from Pa. along with many nieces especially Mary Goetz their flower girl and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary and brothers, Steve and Paul from Pa.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 1 PM in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2410-4th Avenue, Watervliet, NY. Interment, with military honors, will follow in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Maplewood. Friends are invited to attend. There will be no public calling hours prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, 2410 4th Avenue, Watervliet, N.Y. 12189

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