Bernard Ludwig Sivavec
Bernard “Bernie” Ludwig Sivavec, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
Bernard “Bernie” Ludwig Sivavec, a son of the late Anton and Mary Zagar Sivavec, was born on August 10, 1926 and raised on a farm in Cecil. Bernie graduated from Cecil High School before joining the Army to serve as an Aerial Engineer, airplane and engine mechanical specialist in WWII. He then served in the National Guard while beginning his career as a mechanical engineer for the RCA, Meadowlands.
Bernie met Dorothy Kmet at a Slovenian polka dance at the SNPJ lodge in Strabane. He married Dorothy in 1950. Soon after, he built his pride and joy, his house in McMurray, where they raised their family. Always a farm boy to the core, Bernie enjoyed vegetable gardening, riding his tractors, and working on his land. He was an avid golfer who loved his RCA league play, as well as playing with his children and traveling to his favorite resorts. Having an engineer’s mind, he was compelled to fix everything in the house, from radios and TVs to appliances and cars. He also enjoyed inventing and tinkering in his furnace room workshop. General Electric acquired RCA in the 1980s and he finished his career as a Senior Engineer at GE of Camden, NJ. At the time of his retirement, he moved back to his home in McMurray, PA.
He spent his life as a caring and loving husband and enjoyed traveling with Dorothy after retirement. In 2004, they traveled to Slovenia and had the time of their lives and Bernie met with his cousins at the Sivavec farm, where his father was born and raised.
Bernie was a loving, supportive, and encouraging father to his three children and his life revolved around them. He loved to help them with improvements to their own houses. As a grandfather, he was lots of fun and took much pride in his three grandsons.
Bernard was preceded in death by his siblings Anthony (Mildred) Sivavec, Mary Sivavec (Anton) Leban, and Frederick Henry (Catherine) Sivavec.He is survived by his wife Dorothy, McMurray; his children Kevin Sivavec, Glastonbury, CT; Timothy (Vincenzo Bumbalo) Sivavec, Clifton Park, N.Y.; Diane (Mark McFeeters) Sivavec, Ewing, N.J.; his grandsons, Tyler Sivavec, Conn.; Jacob Sivavec, Conn.; and Nicholas McFeeters, N.J.
His family felt that he was one of a kind and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Private interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.