George J. Chmiel

Mr. George J. Chmiel, 89, of Allentown, died Sunday, Aug. 8, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, in Allentown. Born in 1932 in Moosic, PA, he was the ninth of 10 children born to Felix and Caroline (Blicharz) Chmiel. He graduated from Moosic High School in 1949 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as a junior lineman for the Special Services division in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1952 and enrolled at the University of Scranton, where he graduated in 1956 with a B.S. in Accounting. He began his career at Northeastern National Bank & Trust in Scranton. He was a longtime member of the management team at Coca-Cola Bottling of Palmerton and an internal auditor for Coca-Cola of New York. He was the devoted husband to Rhoann (Jones) Chmiel, his loving wife of 49 years, who died in 2010. They raised their family in Palmerton, before he moved to Allentown. He loved his children and grandchildren and supported each step in their individual journeys. George was an avid golfer who loved Broadway shows, any sporting event and the Turner Classic Movie network almost as much as the Catholic church. He had the wit of a vaudeville performer and the kind and gentle spirit that left a lasting impression on everyone he ever met. He will be missed by many, forgotten by none. In addition to his wife, George was predeceased by his nine siblings. He is survived by their children, David Chmiel, of South Orange, N.J., husband of Paula Chmiel; Mark Chmiel, of Kingston, N.Y., husband of John Seidman; Richard, of Reisterstown, Md., and husband of Kimberly Chmiel, and Megan Patruno, of Allentown, wife of Joseph Patruno, M.D. He also is survived by seven grandchildren: Zachary, Nicholas, Catherine, Caroline, Luke, Daniel, and Hannah. Services: Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 A.M., Friday, Aug. 13, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Allentown. Calling hours are 6 P.M.-7:30 P.M., Thursday, July 12, at J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, 1601 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA. Donations: In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in his name to the Palmerton Area Library Association, 402 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071.

George J. Chmiel

August 8, 2021