POLAND - On Wednesday morning, May 31, 2017, John T. Sontich was taken to his final resting place by the Lord Jesus. He passed away unexpectedly, but comfortably, at his home in the presence of his family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Joseph S. Rudjak on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church Holy Apostles Parish, 421 Covington St. in Youngstown.
Friends and family may call from 9 to 9:45 a.m., before the Mass at church.
John T. Sontich was born on July 20, 1926, in Lowellville, a first generation Croatian American, the son of Steve and Zora Sontich.
After graduating from Lowellville High School, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific campaign. Upon returning home, he graduated from Youngstown College, earning a B.A. in Accounting in 1950. Subsequently, he earned a J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall Law School.
After law school, John stayed in Youngstown where he met his future wife, Viive Prees, and was married in 1956.
John worked as an estate tax attorney for the Internal Revenue Service at the Youngstown office for 35 years. He and Viive moved to Poland in 1960, and had two children, Viive M. and John K. He enjoyed reading history, gardening and watching his children and grandchildren play football and baseball. He loved traveling with his family and made lifelong friends in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Viive.
He is survived by his daughter, Viive Marie (Tim) Clayton of Poland; Dr. John Sontich of Chagrin Falls; six grandchildren, Tim (Dominika) of Columbus, Sean Clayton (Lindsay) of New York City, Thomas Clayton of Chagrin Falls, Lukas Sontich of University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, and Sophia and Christoph Sontich of Chagrin Falls; four great-grandchildren Alex, William, Trey and Claire Clayton of Columbus; his brother, Joseph (Rosemary) Sontich of Poland; and sister-in-law Mary Sontich of Michigan.
The family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations to Sts. Peter and Paul Holy Apostles Parish, 421 Covington St., Youngstown, OH 44510.
Arrangements are being handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel.