Westminster Cemetery "Wisloski Family Plot"

Taken from the original "a journey into the past".

John J. Weleski was born John J. Wisloski on July 3rd, 1904. Place of birth is unknown. John was the son of Eva Wisloski. Information regarding his father’s name or the whereabouts of his father’s final resting place is unknown. It has been said that any conversation regarding his father was strictly forbidden by his mother. John had two older brothers Andrew and Samuel and four sisters Eva, Anna, Mary and Julie.

Eva Wisloski, John’s mother died July 11th, 1932 and was buried at Westminster cemetery on July 15th, 1932 in the Lansdowne Section, Lot 327 in grave number one. She was 58yrs old. Cause of death listed at St. John the Baptist church is Cancer. The lot holder is recorded as Eva Wisloski. Therefore, she either purchased the lot prior to her death or it was her daughter Eva who purchased the lot before she married. The lot contains ten burial plots and twenty graves. Currently there are eleven graves filled.

While researching archival records at St. John the Baptist Church located in Manayunk, I came across the death records of Andrew and Samuel Wisloski. Both were listed as dying on the same day from Asphyxiation. This information prompted me to investigate the reason behind the Wisloski brothers’ cause of death. Upon further investigation, I discovered that after an evening of drinking, the Wisloski brothers’ got into a fist fight at home and unbeknownst to both of them the gas pipe above the stove was inadvertently hit by one or both of them causing the release of gas. Both were asphyxiated by the gas fumes. Andrew was 50yrs old and Samuel was 40yrs old at the time of their death. The date of death was listed as March 11th, 1938 and the funeral mass was held at St. John’s on March 16th, 1938 at 9AM. Burial was held on the same date at Westminster cemetery in lot 327, grave number two. Residence listed at the time of their death was 166 Roxborough Avenue.

Also listed in the Lansdowne Section, Lot 327 are the graves of Eva Bednarski buried October 17th, 1945 and her husband Peter Bednarski buried on December 17th, 1945. Both are listed as being in grave number three. Eva is listed as being age 62yrs and Peter is listed as being age 60yrs at the time of their deaths. George Kraft was buried on April 20th, 1954 and his wife Anna Kraft was buried on July 9th, 1990. Both are listed as being in grave number four. George was 58yrs old and Anna was 90yrs old at the time of their deaths. In grave number five are the remains of Mary Lowry buried on January 17th, 1968 and her husband John Lowry buried on November 25th, 1975. Mary was listed as being age 66yrs old and John was 75yrs old at the time of their deaths. The last plot used in Lot 327 is number six where the remains of Anna Elia buried on April 11th, 1979 and her husband Patrick buried on June 24th, 1994. Anna was listed as being 55yrs old and Patrick was 72yrs old at the time of their deaths. (Westminster cemetery burial records)

Note; John Weleski is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery with his wife in the Schroeder Family Plot.

Note; the burial place of Julie is unknown at this time.