Andy Romanitis

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

Collinsville, IL

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

11:00 am

Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

Collinsville, IL

Andy Romanitis, 95, of Glen Carbon, IL, passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, in O’Fallon, IL.He was born July 1, 1927, to John and Nellie Romanitis, in Maryville, IL. He married Charlene Plotch on September 29, 1951, at the old Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, IL, and she preceded him in death on July 31, 2015. He missed her very much.

Andy grew up in Maryville, IL, but lived in Collinsville, IL most of his life. He spoke fondly of his boyhood in Maryville, especially spending summers with his friends swimming in Maryville Pond. He also spoke about going to the Miners Theater in Collinsville, and he remembered places and people in Maryville and Collinsville long after they were gone.

Andy attended Collinsville High School and was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Andy and Charlene attended Saturday Mass in their later years. He retired from Hunter Packing Co., where he worked in the warehouse driving forklifts. Later he worked as a custodian in the maintenance department for the Collinsville Unit District 10 School District.

Andy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Andy enjoyed music and was a lifelong fan of Big Band music. He often referenced Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra was one of his favorite singers.

He enjoyed sports and was a lifelong STL Cardinals fan. He loved to run and was a runner most of his life.

Andy loved his family more than anything: he was a treasured dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, and friend.

He taught his young children and grandson to play sports, helping to coach their baseball and soccer teams, and he was there at every game. He also was known for accompanying his young granddaughter on school field trips to the apple orchard, zoo, and botanical garden. He enjoyed spending time with his great-grandchildren in recent years. Andy and Charlene always took their children on summer vacations. A favorite were trips to Detroit MI to visit the family’s aunt and uncle. He and Charlene continued the vacation tradition with the grandchildren, driving cross-country more than once to the Pacific Northwest.

Andy also dearly loved his dogs, Cooky, Bert, Baron, and Sam. He loved nature and animals and enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels in his backyard.

Andy was the quintessential renaissance man. He was incredibly talented at woodworking, home electrical, home plumbing, home repairs and repairing cars and trucks, and if he didn’t know how to fix something, he would learn how. You could always find Andy working outdoors, in the garage, or in the shed. Andy was always ready to help his family, friends, and neighbors.  He was a strong, brave, generous, understanding, and modest man, with a heart of gold, and will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Charlene (nee Plotch) Romanitis; his parents, John and Nellie Romanitis; sister, Millicent Romanitis.

Andy is survived by daughter, Susan Ann Romanitis, Portland, OR; son, Andrew Michael Romanitis, Collinsville, IL; grandchildren, Andrew Michael (Amanda) Romanitis, Jr., Aviston, IL, Mikalene Ann Romanitis, Granite City, IL; great-grandchildren, Alexander Michael Romanitis, Aviston, IL, Alivia Mae Romanitis, Aviston, IL; two nieces, two nephews, and many loving friends and relatives.

Memorials may be made to Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, or Partners for Pets.

Visitation: Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Collinsville, IL.

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 11:00 am, Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Collinsville, IL.

Clergy: Fr. Michael Haag

Interment: Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Collinsville, IL.

Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home, Collinsville, IL