Obituary of Charles George Hajduk, Jr.

Charles George (Bertram) Hajduk, Jr. (Chuck, Charlie, Hon, Dad, Uncle Chuck, Grandpa, Papa, Papa Hajduk) was born on May 22, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his parents, Charles George Hajduk, Sr. and Frances M. Wasecko Hajduk, and his siblings (all deceased), Maryann, David (survived by his wife Carolyn), Clare, Helen, and Frances.

Charles attended Mount Carmel High School in Niagara, Ontario where he was formed by the Carmelites, and went on to study in Washington, D.C., and then at St. Bonaventure University. Eventually, he pursued a career in banking. He attended the American School of Banking and worked as a branch manager and assistant vice president. After a short time in financial planning, he worked for Amerada Hess Oil Corporation in corporate security at both the New York City and Woodbridge, New Jersey sites.

A Roman Catholic man of prayer and deep faith, with a special devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Thérèse, Charles served the Church throughout his life in various capacities. He was a dedicated cantor for many years when he lived in Toms River, New Jersey.

He loved the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates (often donning Steelers or Pirates attire and hats). Baseball was his favorite sport and he played in a softball league until he was 80. A great lover of music, singing, and recording, his favorite voices included Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Roger Whittaker. He was especially fond of Christmas music. Charles loved the ocean and riding the waves. He enjoyed breakfasts out, ordering French toast or blueberry pancakes, always with a side of bacon. A man of few words, Charles will be remembered for always having his Magnificat prayer book in tow, his model trains, feeding the birds (especially the hummingbirds), his singing, his big hugs, his mischievous smirk, his morning notes, his devotion to his wife and unwavering dedication to his family, his prayers before meals on holidays, and, of course, his Steelers and Pirates hats.

Charles is survived by his loving wife, Joanne, his children: Donna and her husband Steve, Lori, and David and his wife Shannon, his grandchildren: Vinnie and his wife Seema, Michael, Miranda, Daniel, Emily and her husband John, Jamie and her husband Michael, Jonathan, Benjamin, Maggie, Caleb, Luke, Chloe, and Crosby, and his great-grandchildren: Tyler and his wife Holly, Grady, Aliya, Rowan, and Aoife.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM, Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at St. Patrick R.C. Church, 327 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, NJ. Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Belvidere, NJ.  Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at MacFadden Funeral Home, Belvidere, NJ.