Frank V. Cembalski

Frank V. Cembalski, 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 13, 2019 at home with his loving family by his side. Frank was the son of the late Wesley and Mary Cembalski. He was the devoted husband to Janet Cembalski and the late Patricia Cembalski.

Born in Witherbee, NY, Frank moved to Schenectady, NY at the age of seventeen to work at General Electric. He was a proud lifetime employee of GE Schenectady when the company was in its heyday. Starting in the apprentice program, he worked his way through the ranks, retiring after 42 years of service as a Manufacturing Engineer. He was active in GE basketball & softball leagues, and also hunted & fished many years with a group of GE colleagues.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, tinkering in his wood shop, and all things Polish. Every year he looked forward to picking gallons of blueberries, inviting his children & grandchildren in that tradition. There was rarely a day when Frank was not happily at work at his workbench, in his barns or in his beloved vegetable garden. Many neighbors & friends were recipients of his abundant harvest. He otherwise could be found in a tree stand or in a fishing boat accompanied by some of the Eastman boys. After long days he was always rewarded by Janet's delicious cooking and homemade pies.

After retirement, he & Janet were able to spend time visiting their children & extended family in the OBX, Florida, the Carolinas, and Montana. No one could pack a car or cooler better than Frank.

After losing his first wife Patricia in 1969, he was faced with raising his three young children. He was fortunate to receive help from his family, including his Aunt Anna, who moved into the home. In 1972 he married his second wife Janet, who was also widowed with 3 young children. With six children between them, they became the Brady Bunch! Being a provider for his family and allowing Janet to stay home for his children brought him great satisfaction. Frank was proud that all 6 of his children earned college degrees & inherited his strong work ethic.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, Frank was predeceased by his sister Frances Eastman.

Frank is survived by his wife Janet Cembalski, his children, Michael, Nancy (William) Hull, James Rapant, Teresa (Steven) Van Heukelom, William Rapant (Andjelka) and Judith (James) Millis; grandchildren Dylan, Samuel, Justin, Benjamin, Anastasia, Djibo, Aisha, Lynita and Mark, and great grandchildren Eleanor and Charlotte. He is the brother of Anna Myers, Thomas Cembalski, and Mary Ann Opalski.

The family would like to thank Joseph Todd for all of his care and devotion to Frank and Janet.

Calling hours will be held at St. Paul the Apostle, 2777 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York on Tuesday December 17, 2019 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle. Interment will follow the Mass at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Jude's Children Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38148