Alfred Fendick

Christmas morning angels came and escorted Alfred L. Fendick 88 to heaven to be with the almighty Father and loved ones. He passed away peacefully in the comfort of a home he built surrounded by family. Alfred is predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years Rita D. (Fancher) Fendick; parents John and Mary (Albrechta) Fendick; sisters Margaret Fetcho and Dorothy Rittenburg; brothers Robert, Edward, James, and Leo, and other dearly loved family members. He is survived by his siblings: Frances Chier, John (Maxine), Ted, Donna Snopek, Anita Haskell, and Richard. Five children: Dawn (Brian) Phoenix, Mark (Robin), Richard, Alfred (Susan McCoy Johnston, fiancé) Jr. - FL, and Matthew (Jodi). Ten grandchildren: Timothy (Sandy Plute, fiancé) Phoenix - CA, Richard (Jennifer) Phoenix - PA, Randy - FL, Adam (Katie) Phoenix, Tiffany - FL, Cayla (Joseph) Gonzalez, Joshua, Sydney, Jake, and Colby. Seven great-grandchildren: Nina and Thaddeus Phoenix - PA, Gabriel, and Julian Gonzalez, Kayden Williams - FL, James and Jonathan Phoenix, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends he held close to his heart.

Al proudly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was in Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. While on patrol on May 22, 1952, his platoon was attacked. He was wounded in the arms and legs. The two that fought on either side ofhim Technical Sergeant Infantry Unit Leader Harold Lee Wagner and Private First-Class Vincent Paul Dougherty were killed in action. Al was presented with the Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with two Stars,UN Service, Gold Star instead of second Purple Heart, and National Defense Service Medals. He vowed his fallen brothers would never be forgotten along with anyone who had served and fought and who currently serve and fight for our magnificent country. He often spoke of and kept close to his heart employee and friend US Army Sergeant Lester RayStone Jr. killed in action, March 3, 1969, serving in the Vietnam War.

Al grew up on a farm located on West Chenango Road in Binghamton, N.Y. with his parents and twelve siblings which later years was referred to as “Fendick Hill.” He attended school at St. Cyril’s and Chenango Forks. He married Rita Fancher, February 5, 1955, and together they raised five children. Once their children were grown, they moved to Punta Gorda, FL. It was their home for thirty-plus years. Al was a talented mason and owned his own masonry business. He regularly attended church, had adeep passion for the outdoors, loved hunting and fishing, and instilled inhis family members to keep that spirit alive. Yearly fishing trips to Canada will be especially remembered. Transportation and accommodations were always sketchy and remembering to put the plug in the boat was a usual mishap. He will forever be known as Pop by his family, and his legacy will live on through his family, trade, and storytelling. He was a simple, resilient, old-fashioned, and stubborn man, but whether he was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, or soldier, he was larger than life and a great inspiration to all who knew him. Whenever you phoned or visited him, when asked “how are you today,” his response was always “I am wonderful.” His grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always remember their Pop as a soldier, hard worker, outdoorsman, survivor, strong, caring, old fashioned, wise, confident, brave, great sense of humor, determined, sagacious, hero, jokester, and a great and funny storyteller.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Church, 147 Main St., Johnson City, N.Y. 13790 on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Friends and family may call at church, 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. Our family extends a heartfelt thank you to all health care providers and Lourdes Hospice for their compassionate care and support during our father’s final weeks.

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