Obituary
Frank William Petkiewich, Jr, a devoted and loving husband to Andrea, loving father to his daughter Carrie and son-in-law Jeff, peacefully passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78 years old.
Frank (also known as Fran, Franny, Uncle Bee, and Papa P) was born in the West End of Boston, MA to parents Frank and Loretta Petkiewich. He enjoyed growing up in the West End with his older sister Maryanne and his younger brother Wally. Frank went to St. Joseph Church where when he got older was a lecturer. In his youth, Frank moved from the West End to Somerville, MA and attended St. Benedicts grammar school. He graduated with honors from Somerville Trade High School in 1964.
Frank joined the United States Marine Corp. in 1966 and after his service was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. He made lifelong friends in the Corp and proudly represents the Marines displaying his flags and memorabilia.
Frank’s professional life and lifelong passion was carpentry. After the Marines, he joined the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Boston. He was a loyal member of Local 40 (now local 328) for 54 years and during that time held the position of recording secretary for many years. Frank took his carpentry expertise from the field and applied it in the classroom as an accomplished apprentice instructor at the carpenter’s training center in Millbury until he retired. Frank was the very first instructor to be hired at the training school when it first opened, and last year he was honored with a plaque for that distinction, which he is so very proud of.
Frank found fulfillment in renovating his home and most especially designing and creating toy wooden fire trucks in his workshop. In retirement, Frank loved playing golf. He enjoyed traveling around New England and trying different golf courses. He golfed in the Cambridge league and also the Firemen’s golf league. His favorite golfing moments were when he golfed with his daughter Carrie and son-in-law Jeff.
Frank and Andrea celebrated 54 years of marriage this year. She was his rock, his constant, and the love of his life. Frank cherished time spent with his friends and family. He loved telling old stories of the West End and of his childhood, and his belly laugh was infectious. He enjoyed dining out and was a connoisseur of chicken “pahm”, filet mignon, and pizza (especially on his visits to NYC). He loved watching westerns on tv, especially his favorites with the legend John Wayne, as well as Seinfeld and Star Wars movies with his daughter Carrie.
Frank is survived by: his wife Andrea, daughter Carrie Johnson and her husband Jeff of Nottingham, Maryland, sister Maryanne Johnson of Spring Hill, Florida and her husband James. He was the brother to Walter Petkiewich of Tewksbury, MA. He was the brother-in-law of Mary Purcell of Bellingham, MA and her late husband Steve, Janet Adams of Billerica, MA and her late husband Billy, Sandra Hodnett of Maine and her husband Jim, Christine McCarthy of Billerica, MA and husband Jim. Frank is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Visiting hours will be held at George L. Doherty Funeral Home 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq) Somerville, MA on Sunday September 14 from 2:00PM-5:00PM.
A funeral procession will be held on Monday, September 15th from the George L. Doherty Funeral Home 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq,) Somerville at 10:00AM. Followed by a Funeral mass at St. Clement’s Church, 64 Warner St., Medford at 11:00AM.
Services will conclude with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.