Steve A. Papai

Jan. 10, 1907 - July 16, 1997

Steve A. Papai, 90, of West Ben Street, New Carlisle, Ind., died at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, in his home.

Mr. Papai was born on Jan. 10, 1907, in Divernon, Ill., to Victor Papai and Mary Pongracz, the eldest son and third born of 11 children.

He moved to South Bend, Ind., in 1929 and was employed by the Studebaker Corporation for 34 years. He retired from Allied Stamping in 1970. After retirement, he assisted his wife Gertrude in the operation of Pepper's Tavern in Crumstown, until moving to New Carlisle in 1979.

Mr. Papai married Julia Varga, who preceded him in death in 1963. Mr. Papai was also preceded in death by a son, Steven, Jr.; a grandson, David Papai; and by three sisters and three brothers.

In 1970 he married Gertrude (Chrobot) Pietrzak, who survives. He is also survived by his daughter, Julianne ''Jill'' Mroczkiewicz of South Bend; three sons, David of Anderson, Ind., Victor of South Bend and Albert of New Carlisle. Gertrude's children, embraced by Mr. Papai, are James Pietrzak and Mary Lou Glon, both of New Carlisle.

He is survived by his grandchildren, Allison Glon of New Carlisle, Michele Papai of Athens, Ohio, Andrea Fowler of Punta Gorda, Fla., Jeanne Papai of Mapleton, Ore., Debra Troxell of San Jose, Calif., Kelly Jarka of Rolling Prairie, Ind., Melissa Kuczmanski of South Bend, Michael Papai of Anderson, Ind., Victor Papai of New Orleans, La., Kenneth Papai of California, Douglas Glon of New Carlisle, Stephen Papai of Indianapolis, Ind., Christopher Papai of Buchanan, Mich., Tod Papai of LaPorte, Ind., Albert Mroczkiewicz of South Bend, Tom Pietrzak of New Carlisle, and Tim Pietrzak of New Carlisle. There are 23 great-grandchildren surviving.

Also surviving are sisters, Laura Suarez of Springfield, Ill., and Theresa McGee of Tulsa, Okla., and his brothers, Ernest Papai of Fort Worth, Texas, and William Papai of Divernon, Ill.

Mr. Papai was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. Before moving to New Carlisle, he was a member of Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend.

He was an avid gardener and sports fan. Notre Dame football and the Cubs were his favorite teams. Golf and cards were his passion.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, New Carlisle, with Rev. Eugene Kazmierczak officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, South Bend.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 201 S. Filbert Street, New Carlisle, where a parish wake service will be held at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County.