Chester Tabaka

POLAND - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church for Chester E. Tabaka, 89, who passed away early Sunday morning at Hospice House.

Chester was born July 1, 1926 in New Middletown, a son of the late Frank and Catherine (Mogelski) Tabaka.

Chester was a 1945 graduate of Springfield High School and attended Youngstown State University. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in the First Calvary Infantry.

In 1958, Chester and his three brothers founded a home contracting business and became owner and operator of Lumber City in Boardman for 44 years, retiring in 2002. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, traveling and wood working.

Chester leaves his wife, the former Nancy Gordick, whom he married Aug. 22, 1953; his four children, Daniel (Cindy) Tabaka of Wadsworth, Chester E. Tabaka Jr. of Germantown, Md., Karen Tabaka of Asheville, N.C., and Debra (Steve) Drozda of Los Altos, Calif.; five grandchildren, Joshua, Zarek, Zevan, Nicole, and Lindsey; two great grandchildren, Elijah and Aaliyah; two brothers, Bill (Mary) Tabaka of Boardman and Frank (Julie) Tabaka of Poland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Chester was also preceded in death by four sisters, Nellie Tabaka, Josephine Jasinski, Theresa Serenko, and Mary Tabaka; and three brothers, George, Steve, and Ted Tabaka.

Family and friends may pay their respects Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel and Wednesday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the church.

Material tributes may take the form of donations to Hospice House.