William (Bill) E. Pcheny, age 94, of Peabody, died July 9, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of the late Josephine (Feenie) M. (Biszkowski) Pcheny. Up until his recent illness he had lived independently in the home that he and Josephine purchased 64 years ago.

Born at home in Salem, he was the fourth of six children of the late Peter and Stella (Nezbicka) Pcheny. He was raised and educated in Salem until joining the United States Navy. Bill was a veteran of WWII. He served and was stationed aboard the heavy cruiser, U.S.S. Rochester until his honorable discharge in 1947. Bill was recognized on Memorial Day 2022 by the city of Peabody for service to his country and service to his city.

Bill was the director of Public Health and director of Veterans Services for the city of Peabody for over 32 years before retiring in 2000. As the director of Veterans Services, he had contacts in Boston and Washington and wasn’t afraid to use them to help Peabody’s veterans. To show its appreciation, the Peabody Veterans Council elected Bill as a life-long honorary member of the group, which oversees all veteran’s activities in Peabody. Prior to coming to work for the city of Peabody, Bill spent decades in the meat business, including 27 years as the meat manager of Sobocinski’s on Webb Street in Salem.

Bill was a member of the Retired State County and Municipal Employees Association, the USS Rochester Association, the V.F.W. and Peabody Council on Aging. He was a parishioner at St. Ann’s, Peabody. He enjoyed candlepin bowling and was a team player in many leagues at Metro Bowl. He loved listening to polka music and went polka dancing with Feenie and friends at St. Mike’s in Lynn on Saturday nights. He was politicly active and enjoyed working on many campaigns in the city of Peabody. Upon his retirement, he and his wife took bus trips to polka festivals and Foxwoods. They were able to travel abroad to Europe twice and spent numerous summers at their camp in Maine. Bill is survived by two children, Carol Weeks of Nashua, NH, and William D. Pcheny and his wife, Michelle of Taylors, SC; his sister, Alice Ainsworth of New Mexico; grandchildren Katherine Weeks, Emily Weeks, Justin Pcheny (Breanna), Kyle Pcheny (Hannah), Grant Pcheny (Abby King) and two great grandchildren Jordan and Reagan, with another baby girl expected in September; as well as many nieces, nephews, godchildren and close friends who were like family. Besides his loving wife, he was predeceased by his brothers, John Pcheny and Walter Pcheny, and sisters Edna Walsh, and Theresa O’Grady.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, July 14, from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM followed by his Funeral Service at 11:30 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody.

Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bill may do so to the Stephen M. O’Grady Scholarship Foundation, 27 Williams St., Salem, MA 01970.