Staying Active, No Matter What
By Janet Wickenheiser

As local residents walk past the Parthemore Funeral Home in New Cumberland, they cannot help but notice how nice the grounds are kept all year and the friendliness of one particular senior citizen who works there: Walter Vernitsky.

The funeral home even received a letter from a local resident thanking them for keeping their grounds looking so nice allyear and commenting on how friendly Vernitsky is.

Staying active is often important to seniors, but for Vernitsky, it’s just the way he is.

Eight years ago, Vernitsky was cleaning at St. Theresa’s of the Infant Jesus, in New Cumberland, when someone suggested he apply for the groundskeeper job at Parthemore Funeral Home, which is rightacross the street from St. Theresa’s.

Vernitsky was skeptical. “I didn’t want to do anything I wouldn’t enjoy,” he said.

But one day, Vernitsky saw Gib Parthemore, who runs the funeral home, in the parking lot of St. Theresa’s church, and they started talking. That was in 2002, and Vernitsky is still working at Parthemore two to six hours a day.

“It’s something I really enjoy, and when I interviewed I told them I won’t want to work anywhere that I would have to fight traffic to get to. I live five or six blocks from the funeral home; I walk to work,”Vernitsky said.

In his youth, Vernitsky was in the Navy for two years and then took the postal exam, which led to his 42-year career in the postal service. He started working for the post office in Pittsburgh, and then Harrisburg, before working for the Wilkes-Barre postal service.

“I like to fix stuff; I do whatever has to be done,” he said. “If I see something has to be done, I do it, even though it might not be my job.”

Walter Vernitsky, shown here alongside the grounds he maintains, is a recognizable, friendly face in the local community

“His signature is all over the place,” Parthemore said, noting the flowers Vernitsky planted next to the steps of the funeral home entrance. Vernitsky started the flowers in his own garden and then transplanted them.

Because Vernitsky still cleans at St. Theresa’s, he is a familiar and friendly face to passers by. While he is working outside, he “talks to everyone going to 8:45 a.m. Mass at St. Theresa’s, even if he doesn’t know them,” Parthemore said. “He loves to interact with people; they all love him.”

Vernitsky’s tirelessness is even more remarkable when one considers the physical hardships he has endured. In May of last year, Vernitsky was diagnosed with colon cancer for the second time; the first time he was diagnosed was in 1995. He finished treatment in December 2009 and is getting back into his normal work and gym routine.

Vernitsky works at Parthemore as needed, keeping the grounds looking beautiful as well as performing maintenance, painting duties, and cleanup.

He usually gets up at 5 a.m. and works until 9 a.m. before heading to the government depot to work out at the gym three days a week; on days that he does not go to the gym, he gets up even earlier at 4 a.m.

“He is always here before us,” Parthemore said. “To us, he is in valuable. Numerous people comment on how nice the place looks.”

“I’m an early riser,” Vernitsky explained. He only regrets not being able to compete in this year’s Senior Games in New Cumberland. In 2008, he placed in a number of activities, like the 100-meterrun, the football throw, and pingpong.

Vernitsky’s two children and two grandchildren also keep him active, as does dancing. Vernitsky and his wife, Diana, like to polka at couples dances with the Capital City Polka Dancers Association.

As of December, Vernitsky was back to work at the funeral home, making sure it continues to look great, doing whatever needs to be done, and greeting people as they walk by. Most importantly, he is continuing to learn and finding more ways to stay active, even in retirement.

The Independent Magazine
Features Parthemore Part-Timers

The Independent Magazine, a publication of the Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), recently featured an article about a group of dedicated, part-time Parthemore employees, many of whom are retirees, who help out with everything from maintaining the funeral home grounds to assisting with funeral services.

The article explains how much of the credit for Parthemore Funeral Home’s ability to provide outstanding service is due to these hardworking individuals, who have retired from full time careers as corporate executives, postal workers, law enforcement, engineers and other vocations.

“They truly are great staff that keeps Gib, Bruce, and I on our toes,” said Steve Parthemore. “We are blessed to have them. It’s nice to know that the community also appreciates the work they do. We get good comments all the time.”

OGR is a professional association that stands at the forefront of the funeral profession to address the concerns and needs of the independent, family-owned and locally-owned funeral home. Parthemore Funeral Home has been a member of the organization for more than a decade. Members lead their businesses with care, compassion and dignity and the cornerstone philosophy of the association, “Service measured not by gold, but by the Golden Rule.” 

CLICK HERE to read the entire article featured in magazine.