JOHN F. PAJOR

Dec. 28, 1922 - Jan. 20, 2010
SOUTH BEND - John Francis Pajor, 87, of South Bend, died on January 20th in his home surrounded by family. John was born December 28, 1922, in South Bend, to the late Stephen and Mary (Beider) Pajor.

He grew up in South Bend and was a graduate of Washington High School. John attended Indiana State University before proudly serving as a medic during WWII. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army on April 6, 1946.

On May 3, 1947, John married Mary R. Kertai. The couple made South Bend their home for 62 years. John worked as a homicide detective for the South Bend Police Department, an insurance adjuster for Foley Adjustment Bureau, a Director of Transportation for South Bend Community Schools, and a driver for the Sisters of Holy Cross (to whom he is grateful for their steadfast support and prayers). John was a member of the St. Joseph County Insurance Adjusters' Association, the local Kiwanis, South Bend F.O.P. Lodge 36, RIPEA, and he was a shareholder and board member of Terry Investigations, Inc. John and Mary were members of Holy Cross Church for 35 years and Sacred Heart Parish for 22 years. John was a hard-working, devoted and generous man who loved to travel and to fellowship with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Mary R. Pajor; children, Johnjoseph Pajor, Carol J. (Patrick) Miller, Kathryn A. (Terrence) Kelly, Karen M. Szumski and Michael P. (Therese) Pajor; grandchildren Jeremiah Pajor, Elise (George) Cremeans, Nick (Amy) Rulli, Corey Pajor, Joseph (Emily) Miller, Paul (Modiere) Miller, Peter (Shaina) Miller, David Miller, Leilani (Matthew) Briel, James Miller, John-Thomas Kelly, Christopher (Susan) Kelly, Sarah (James) Matichuk, Katherine Rose (Adam) Murray, Patrick (Nikki) Kelly, Tim (Jana) Kelly, Jennifer Szumski, Joshua (Shilpa) Szumski, Alicia (Jon) Bolen, Matthew Szumski, Monica Szumski, Sabrina Pajor and Luke Pajor; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Jacob Cremeans, Averie and Regan Rulli, Isabelle, Clare and Madeline Miller, Moussa and Adam Miller, Constance Murray, Ember and Iona Matichuk.

John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stephen Pajor; sister, Margaret Pajor; and great-grandchildren, Grace Miller and Jude Miller.

There will be no visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Sacred Heart Parish Crypt, Notre Dame, IN. Military graveside rites will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of John may be made to Riley Children's Hospital, 702 Barnhill Drive, Room 5900, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2189; to Sacred Heart Parish Crypt, 104 The Presbytery, Notre Dame, IN 46556; or to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Jan. 22 to Jan. 27, 2010.

05/10/2023 EJS

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