Michael Katkocin

Michael "Mickey" T. Katkocin of West Bristol, passed away peacefully Wed., March 25, 20915 surrounded by his family. He was 91. Beloved husband of the late Jane (Valentini) Katkocin, Mickey was survived by his 4 children, Elaine Katkocin and her children Lauren and Stephen Balaity, Michele T. Harbison and her husband Andrew and their children Adrian, Brenda, and Michelle, Ronald M. Katkocin and his wife Rosemarie and their children Michael, Camilia, and Christina, and Christine A. Katkocin and her husband David Hart. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Mickey was born in Lansford, PA, August 21, 1923. He was a devout Catholic, attending weekly Mass on a regular basis his entire life until his physical ailments precluded attendance shortly before his death. With his own hands he made a concrete and stone illuminated "grotto" honoring the Blessed Mother, for the front of his home. Stationed in France during WWII, Mickey served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1943 to 1946. As a member of the 284th Signal Pigeon Co. he was responsible for intelligence communications through the use of homing pigeons. Mickey raised pigeons from the time he was a boy until shortly before his death. He was particularly fond of breeding white, splash, and grizzled pigeons. In his early years, Mickey worked as a carpenter and was later employed by U.S. Steel Fairless Works from which he retired over 30 years ago. Mickey's carpentry skills remained with him his entire life; he enjoyed using his woodworking tools to make a variety of wooden figurines and ornaments for family and friends. He was particularly proud of his "JESUS" plaque. Mickey also enjoyed gardening, and he took special pleasure in delivering tomatoes and other "fruits of his labor" to his friends and family. He was also well-known for his spectacular display of flowers annually in his garden. Mickey enjoyed sharing good times with his family and looked forward to taking part in the traditional Slovak meals around the holidays. He was one of the first homeowners to arrive at Broadway Manor and one of the last to leave. Mickey also was grateful for the strong friendships he developed with his neighbors and others, particularly after Jane's passing in 2007. Visitation will be held from 7pm-9pm Sunday, March 29, and 8am-9:15am Monday, March 30, at Galzerano Funeral Home, 3500 Bristol Oxford Valley Road in Levittown. A Mass of Resurrection will take place, 10am, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 601 Bristol Pike, Croydon, on Monday, March 30. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mickey's memory to Pennsbury Manor (www.pennsburymanor.org) for its flower gardens. You may share memories at the Galzerano Funeral Home website. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Katkocin, please visit our flower store.