John Mrkonja

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give - John 14:27. John Mrkonja, 83, of Ambridge, died on October 13 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. 

Born to Mike and Margaret Mrkonja of Aliquippa, John was a 1961 graduate of Hopewell High School. He served in the United States 1st Army before meeting his wife, Josephine Aspiotes, and marrying her in 1968. Known to many in the Pittsburgh area as “Johnny Block,” he had a career as a bricklayer for over five decades, retiring from Cost Corporation and the B.A.C. Local Bricklayers Union. His favorite things in this world were golfing, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pirates and Steelers (in that order), shopping at Giant Eagle, galavanting the local casinos with his wife, scratch-off tickets and bragging about his family. There truly wasn’t a harder worker and prouder father, father-in-law or “papou” than him.

Surviving are his children Lil-Lee “Angel” (Shawn) Ross and Christina (Nicholas) Sheleheda; grandsons Nico Sheleheda and John Ross; brother, Louis Mrkonja, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the “Maplewood Crew”: his neighbors who always made sure to check on him, especially after the loss of his wife.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death this past March by his beloved wife of 57 years, Josephine; siblings Eva (Leo) Silvestri, Marie (Frank) Battalini, Ann (Athony) Marcello, Lilly (Joseph) Taormina, Milan (Stella) Mrkonja, Nicholas (Mary Ann) Mrkonja, Joann Mrkonja, Joseph (Elizabeth) Mrkonja, George Mrkonja, Rudolph Mrkonja and Rosemary Mrkonja; and all of his wife’s siblings, whom he thought of as his own. 

Family and friends will be received on Friday, October 17th from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. in the John Syka Funeral Home, 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge. Family and friends will gather for a funeral service on Saturday, October 18th at 10 A.M. in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 2930 Beaver Road, Ambridge. Interment will follow in Economy Cemetery with the Beaver County Special Unit providing full military honors.

The family would like to thank Dr. Rahim Remtulla and the staff of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for the kind and compassionate care received throughout his battle.

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