Babicz

Edward John Babicz of 706 15th St., St. Cloud, Fla., formerly of Butler, passed away peacefully at 11:26 a.m. Monday surrounded by his family and friends following a battle with bone cancer.

He was born June 28, 1933, in Braddock, Pa., the son of the late Nikodem and Olga Babicz, immigrants from Poland. In 1949, they purchased a farm on Election House Road, Butler, and spent the rest of their lives there.

Ed worked the farm and did other jobs, such as working in Roxy's gas station; and for a short time, he worked for a company that hauled into and out of Armco.

In 1956, he was drafted into the Army, where he spent two years.

He then went into construction, working on the new Niagara Power Plant for many years, during which time he managed to build a house on the farm in his spare time.

One of his dreams was to own a bar and restaurant. In 1963, he became a partner in the Rock Ann Haven, eventually becoming full owner a few years later. During this time, he also purchased a grocery store in Prospect. In 1977, Ed decided he would sell his businesses and retire to Florida.

In his younger years in Braddock, he served as an altar boy at the Sacred Heart Church. After moving to Butler, he was a member of St. Christopher Church in Prospect.

Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Phyllis Wolfrom Babicz; three daughters, Sheryl Alberter and her husband, Robert, Lexie Williams, and her companion, John Cox, and Lori Vacanti and her husband David; seven grandchildren, Erica, Shannon, Courtney and Chelsea Corban, Justin and Kenneth (BJ) Carter and Tanner Williams; and three step-grandchildren, Jonathon, Justin and Joshua Cox. He also has five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nikodem and Olga Babicz; a brother, John Babicz; and three sisters, Jane Babicz Tokarchik, Anna Babicz Garlewsky and Mary Babicz Garlewsky.

<B>BABICZ</B> — Friends of Edward John Babicz, who died Monday, May 18, 2009, will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Fisk Funeral Home, </B>Massachusetts Avenue, St. Cloud, where a service will be held at 7 p.m.The family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends and family make a donation to CornerStone Hospice.