Obituary: Paul L. Ablonczy

Paul L. Ablonczy Jr., 94, of Haddonfield, died Tuesday.

He was the beloved husband of the late Angelina “Angie” (nee Innacola); predeceased by brother Frank and sister Joan (Yuhas); loving father of Janice Cokos (John), Jerelyn Ablonczy (Eric Brosz), both of Haddonfield, and Joanne Popeson (Dennis) of Linwood; devoted grandfather of Paige (Cokos) Rienzo, Brie Cokos, Spenser and Taylor Popeson, Maria and Paul Ablonczy; great-grandfather of Xavier, Luke and Nico.

The consummate member of the greatest generation, Paul served his country proudly for 3 years in the Army Air Corps as an airplane armorer during World War II and lived on as an even prouder veteran and avid storyteller, engendering a profound respect for military service in his children and grandchildren. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

Upon returning from the war, he reunited with his sweetheart, Angie, to whom he was married for 67 years. They settled in Colonia, where he became an active member of community organizations, especially the American Legion and VFW, where he was ultimately honored with a lifetime membership.

He owned and operated Avenel Auto Body Repair Shop from 1945 to 1975, but was masterful throughout his life at fixing any gadget, big or small. Angie and Paul moved to Haddonfield in 2000 to be closer to their daughters and were relentless fans of the many pursuits of their grandchildren.

Immensely proud of his Hungarian ancestry, he relished in conversing with his relatives in Hungary and sharing Hungarian traditions with everyone, especially at his annual ‘szaluna fry.’ Paul's uncanny mental and physical strength even in his last years (he took no medication at 94 and was wary of doctors) are testament to the power of relentless puzzle-solving and laughter. Notorious for his jovial spirit and joke-telling, Paul brought laughs wherever he went. If the words didn’t make you laugh, his hearty laughter at his own joke surely would. He entertained the world up until the day he passed (even in the ER) and is no doubt telling a joke somewhere now.

Mr. Ablonczy’s family will receive friends on Monday, Dec. 10, 10 to 10:45 a.m., at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield; where his funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment, B.G. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Legion online at www.legion.org