Obituary for Mr. William G. “Bill” Chanatry NEW HARTFORD – Mr. William G. “Bill” Chanatry, age 89, departed this life on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 and now knows the glory of heaven. At the time of his passing at MVHS at St. Luke’s Healthcare, he was surrounded with the love of his family. Born in Utica on June 4, 1929, above the family market on Bleecker Street, William was the son of the late Michael and Ameena (Makames) Chanatry.
He was educated locally at Blessed Sacrament Grammar School and Proctor High School. He continued his studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He began his working career as a Design Engineer on the strategic B-36 “Peacemaker” Program at General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas.
He then enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War serving in Japan, Okinawa, and the Far East command. Upon his honorable discharge, Bill joined the General Electric Aerospace Electronic’s Division where he progressed to Program Manager for the United States Navy E-2C Surveillance Radar Team in Utica. He retired after 40 years as a professional Engineer and GE Executive.
On September 3, 1956 he united with the former Janet T. Jweid with whom he shared 62 loving years. They were good partners, and shared similar core family values and virtues. Many people did not know that Bill had two careers.
From a young age, he began working with the family concern, Chanatry’s Grocery Store which was established in 1912 by his two uncles and his father. Upon retiring from General Electric in 1991, he became President of Chanatry’s Hometown Markets and re-invented the store with improvements and modernizing the design to compete with the “Big Box” stores. First and foremost, Bill was a family man and he always chose his loved ones and his community over career advancement opportunities away from Utica.
He was fun-loving and decades of family gatherings are etched in the minds of his loved ones, especially times spent at Oneida Lake. He never stopped his search for knowledge. He was never afraid to learn; even well into his 80’s he kept up with all emerging technology.
He went everywhere with his iPad and iPhone. His mind, ever so keen, allowed him to humbly handle life with such dedication, conviction, and certainly much compassion. Bill was a great man who had a generous heart.
He was a silent giver to the community, always remaining behind the scenes. He was a man of unwavering strong values and integrity and always held himself to the highest standards. Bill was a true humanitarian and a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Also a philanthropist, his family and his hometown benefitted from his God-given grace. He lived a wonderful life, and he will remain in the hearts of many people. Throughout his life he chaired many boards and councils, offering his strong business acumen and advice, and he served on many financial, advisory, social, and church committees.
It was important to Bill’s well-being to attend daily mass. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree and a pillar parishioner of St. Basil’s Greek Melkite Catholic Church. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Janet; his children and their loves, Ameena and Kevin Copeland, Joanne and Richard Tehan, Michael and Terry Chanatry, Bob Chanatry, and Mark and Kristin Chanatry; his adored grandchildren, Kristen (Copeland) and Chris Walsh, Mark Copeland; Kara Tehan, Jessica Tehan, and Richard Tehan and fiancée Diana Pawela; Kelly (Chanatry) and Will Wright, Michael Chanatry, and twins Casey Chanatry and William Chanatry; Ashley Chanatry, and Mark Chanatry; and his great-granddaughter Summer Rose Walsh.
He also leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, whom he loved as his own; his cousins, in-laws, Alex Murad, Teresa Chanatry, Lorraine Kawam, Karen Jweid, and Dolores Jweid; and his faithful friends, too numerous to mention. He was predeceased by his siblings and their spouses, Louis Chanatry, Nellie Chanatry, Mary and Anthony Murad, Edward and Mary Chanatry, Antoinette Murad, Dr. Joseph and Elizabeth Chanatry, Col. Fred Chanatry; as well as his wife’s sisters and brothers who he loved as his own family.
The family extends their sincere thanks to Dr. Francis Constantine, Dr. Ashok Patel, and Dr. Sheila Lemke, these professionals were his confidants for which he was so grateful; the ICU staff at St. Luke’s for their professional care and kindness; and Fr. Saba Shofany for his prayers and spiritual solace. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00-6:00 at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, 2222 Genesee Street, Utica.
Those wishing to express an act of kindness in Bill’s memory may make a contribution to The House of the Good Shepherd online at www. hgs-utica.com or The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter online at www. thearcolc.org; envelopes will also be available at visitation.
Bill’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will commence on Monday morning at 11:00 at his home parish Saint Basil’s Greek Melkite Catholic Church, 901 Sherman Drive, Utica, where his funeral service will be celebrated by Rev. Saba Shofany. Committal prayers and Entombment will follow at Christ Our Savior Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery where Military Honors will be conferred by the U.S. Army and the New Hartford Color Guard.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. William G. “Bill” Chanatry please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Christ Our Savior Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery 2407 Oneida Street Utica, NY, 13501 , Previous Events Visitation , OCT 14. 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Church of Our Lady of Lourdes 2222 Genesee Street Utica, NY, US Funeral Service , OCT 15.
11:00 AM St. Basil’s Melkite Catholic Church Madison Ave.
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