Stefan "Stephen" Branzovich

Son of Michael and Mary (Cizhak) Brenzovich. Born 15 May 1879 in the village of Suckyj [R]/Szuhapatak [H], Uzh [R]/Ung [H] County, Subcarpathian Rus', Austria-Hungary (present day Ukraine); and died 2 July 1955 in Ferrell, Mercer County Pennsylvania. He married Helena "Helen" Pigan 14 May 1903 in the village of Suckyj, and they had eleven children. Stephen is buried in St John's Orthodox Cemetery & Chapel, Sharon, Mercer County Pennsylvania.

Stefan apparently first came to the United States circa 1906 and returned to Europe, date unknown. His first child born in the United States was born in October 1907. In addition, Stefan's brother Alex Brenzovich indicated on his arrival in the United States, June 1907, that he was going to see his brother, Stefan living in Forbes Road, (Westmoreland County) Pennslvania. According to Stefan's naturalization documents filed in 1937, he returned to the United States on 7 Mar 1910 arriving in Baltimore, Maryland aboard the SS Cassel sailing from Bremen Germany. He was listed under the name of Stefan Brindzovics. His listed his nationality as Czechoslovakian and his race as Ruthenian. At the time of filing for naturalization, he was living in Farrell, Mercer County Pennsylvania. Stefan took the oath of allegiance and became a citizen on 27 May 1940.

At the time of the 1920 census, Stefan and his family were living in Derry Township, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. He moved his family to Mercer County Pennsylvania in October 1929. At the time of the 1930 census, he and his family were living in the Borough of Farrell.

Stefan was employed as a coal miner. He retired from the Slickville mine in Mercer County. He was a member of the St. John's Greek Orthodox Catholic Church in Sharon Pennsylvania, the St. Nicholas Church Lodge and the Greek Catholic Union No. 979. Stefan's brother Alex, of Fredericktown Pennsylvania, is mentioned in Stefan's obituary. The spelling variation in Stefan's surname "Branzovich" and Alex's surname "Brenzovich" is believed to be the result of the translation and pronunciation of the surname.

Children of Stefan & Helena (Pigon) Branzovich and their descendants:

» Mary Branzovich b: 1907, d: 1969

» Charles Branzovich b: 1908, d: 1970

» John Branzovich b: 1911, d: 1984

» Peter Branzovich b: 1913, d: 1986

» Stephen Branzovich, Jr b: 1915 d: 1984

» Ann D Branzovich b: 1917, d: 1990

» Hellen Branzovich b: 1919 d: 1920 (?)

» Alexander Branzovich b: 1921, d: 1977

» Sohpie Branzovich b: 1924

m: Henry Schaller

m: Harold Baker

» George Branzovich b: 1925

» Michael Branzovich b: 1927, d: 2000