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Family of Anna Tereschak & Stephen Fender
Anna Tereschak, b. October 26, 1909 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA, d. May 9, 1953 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, m. Stephen Fender [b. September 13, 1900 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, d. March 12, 1963 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA] on June 21, 1929 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA
Their Children:
Virginia "Jean" Mildred Fender, b. March 20, 1930 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, d. September 27, 1980 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA
Marie Theresa Fender, b. June 12, 1931 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, d. February 4, 1999 in Utica, Oneida Co., New York, m. William Polinsky [b. Mildred, PA] on July 15, 1947 in Fort Beluoir, VA.
Children of Marie Fender & William Polinsky
Peter Joseph Fender, b. July 16, 1932 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, d. July 7, 1982 in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA, m. Helen Zawacki in Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA
Dorothy Audrey Fender, b. Swoyersville, Luzerne, PA
Anna Fender, b. February 26, 1940, d. February 28, 1940
Anna Tereschak/Tershak Fender
October 26, 1909-May 9, 1953
Written by
Marie Fender Polinsky & Dorothy Fender
Anna Tereschak/Tershak was born in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on October 26, 1909. She was the daughter of George and Dorothy Tereschak. She came from a family of ten children, six girls, three boys, and one child unknown sex. One sister, Mary, died at the age of four from a kidney infection due to her having diphtheria. Her brother Joey died at the age of eleven from appendicitis.
Anna’s mother died in 1927 at the age of 43 from breast cancer. Upon her death, Anna, age 17, stepped into the responsibility of taking care of her sisters, brothers, and father. She lovingly cared for her family and worked hard and long hours making sure all their needs were taken care of.
Anna met and fell in love with Stephen Fender, whom she married on June 21, 1929. They had an enormous wedding and celebrated the event with their family and friends for three days. During their marriage, they were blessed with five children, Virginia, Marie, Peter, Dorothy, and Anna. After a breach birth, sadness hit when little Anna only survived two days after her birth.
For Anna and Stephen, life was very hard since it was during the “depression” years. They struggled financially like all other families to survive, maintain a home, and keep food on the table. Jobs were scarce and limited but with understanding and caring they managed as much as possible to raise their four children whom they loved tremendously.
Anna was a very easy going person, loved by everyone, family, friends, and neighbors. She loved to cook for her family and friends and always made from scratch homemade meals. This was difficult for Anna as she only had a coal stove to cook on. Everyone loved her homemade bread, potato pancakes and of course, her Slovak entrees.
For recreation Anna took delight in going to and watching the movies as they did not own a television. She thoroughly enjoyed love stories and mainly loved musicals. She was a big fan of Clark Gable, Bing
Crosby, and John Payne. She also enjoyed the acting of Judy Garland and Betty Grable.
She loved music and you would always hear her singing, especially, “You Are my Sunshine”. It was normal for Anna to always have the radio or phonograph on whenever she was ironing clothes, doing housework, cooking, or when possible, taking a moment of relaxation in the evening. Anna also listened to some of the daytime “soaps” serials while she was busy in the kitchen.
In the springtime she took pleasure in planting flowers and a garden. She loved flowers around the outside of her home and bringing the fragrance and colors of the flowers inside. Her favorites were the bleeding hearts and the carnations.
She always spent as much time as she could with her children. She would gather them around and read from books or creatively tell stories.
Anna had four grandchildren, Bill Jr., Diane, Debi, and John, all born to her daughter Marie. Anna only lived long enough to see Bill Jr.,. and Diane. She loved them dearly and had them with her whenever she could. After they moved to New York, Anna made sure she would care for them at least two or three weeks every summer and would somehow try to see them on every holiday.
Unfortunately, Anna was stricken with cancer at the very young age of 39. She was hemorrhaging a lot and there was nothing the doctors could do for her. They packed her internally with radium, and this allowed her to survive another four years. Her last year alive was a very painful time. This time was not only painful for Anna but also for the family to watch her struggle and suffer with this dreadful disease. On May 9, 1953, at the age of 42, Anna succumbed to eternal rest.