Vincent Stephen Janenka , VRHS Class of 1939
Vincent Stephen Janenka, age 95, passed away in God’s peace in his beloved Home, surrounded by his family, on July 5, 2017. Vincent was born in the old South End of Albany, N.Y. on December 30, 1921, the fifth of Anna and John Janenka’s seven children. As a young man, Vincent loved school, attending St. John’s grammar school in Albany, where he was an altar boy. His family moved to Rensselaer in 1929, and Vincent graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1939. Vincent excelled as an athlete, starring as a highly recruited all-area player in basketball, and was even more exceptional in baseball. His 3 doubles off the wall helped his Rensselaer team win the 1st New York State CYO championship game in old Hawkins Stadium in 1939. He went on to play shortstop on large US Navy teams during the war years, alongside future major leaguers. Vincent answered the call of his country after the outbreak of the 2nd World War, enlisting in the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific Theatre at Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, and at Noumea, New Caledonia, as well as other locations, and achieving the rank of Petty officer 1st Class. After the war, Vincent married his beloved Georgia, and raised 2 sons, Vincent and Stephen, while working for the United States Postal Service as a clerk and supervisor, primarily at the Pine Station in Albany. Formed by immigrant poverty, the Great Depression, and the 2nd World War, Vincent was a very simple man. He loved his God, he loved his family, he loved his country, he loved his neighbors and friends. Vincent was blessed by God with childlike faith straight from the Gospels. His beloved Mother taught and nurtured this faith in him, leading to a lifelong love of his Catholic religion and the Church. Vincent regularly attended daily Mass, and especially in later life, was a man of prayer, using many of the long hours spent at dialysis to pray the Rosary, and to pray for his family, friends, and those in need. Vincent had a fierce commitment to family. A similar heroic commitment by his Mother brought the Janenkas through the Depression after the loss of their Father in 1935. He provided for his family and watched over them in all possible ways unto death. His long marriage to Georgia was a witness to the beauty of marriage, each partner taking care of the other through old age and infirmities, their love growing stronger to the end. Vincent wanted to always be with his family. He gave special lifelong care to his son Stephen. His grandson Matthew was the joy of his old age. Vincent also loved vacationing at the ocean in York Beach, Maine, he loved music and collected records, he loved all sports, he loved going out to eat, he loved his Wednesday and Saturday dinners and picnics with "the Crowd" as he called his many friends and family. And "the Crowd" came to his bedside most beautifully in his final days. He also liked betting on things, like horses, and even made it to Saratoga Flat Track twice in his 95th year. Vincent was almost always cheerful and optimistic despite great odds and infirmities in late life, and was an extraordinary example of courage, will, fierce determination, and love of life to all who knew him at this time. And now this past week, the Lord rewarded him with a very peaceful and happy death, ending a wonderful, long, and well lived life, in keeping with the highest standards of "The Greatest Generation", which he dearly embodied for all of us. Vincent was a near lifelong Parishioner of the Catholic Church in Rensselaer, and a life member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a life member of the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Vincent is survived by His 2 sons, Vincent J. (Linda) Janenka of Brunswick, and Stephen J. of Rensselaer, and by his beloved grandson, Matthew Vincent. Vincent was predeceased by his parents, John F. and Anna (Strabucz) Janenka, and six siblings, Josephine D’Alessandro, John V., Stella McNary, Edward J., Florence T., and Helen Williams, and a brother Joseph, who died in infancy. The family wishes to express special thanks to Patrice Beebe, who’s loving, creative, and brilliant care as an aide and friend to Vincent His final 3 years greatly improved His life, they being out and about together almost every day! Anyone wishing to make a contribution in memory of Vincent should do so to the Church of St. John’s-St. Joe’s, P.O. Box 256, Rensselaer, N.Y. 12144.