Bencze, Istvan (Stephen)             
WATERFORD Istvan (Stephen) Bencze, 70, died on Monday, September 6, 2004 after
a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born in Tapolca, Hungary, he was the son
of the late Lajos and Margit Bencze. Stephen served in the Hungarian Army
before immigrating to America with his wife, Maria in 1956. He worked as a
stone cutter for Adam Ross Cut Stone in Albany since 1958. Stephen had a
passion for fishing. He was a very strong rooted family man, focusing on his
family and cherishing every moment spent with them. Stephen is predeceased by
his brother, Jozsef Bencze and his sister, Margit Bencze. Stephen is survived
by his devoted wife of 48 years Maria Toth Bencze of Waterford; his beloved
children, Steven Bencze of Waterford, Anna Maria Bencze Pantuosco and her
husband Gregory of Rotterdam, Robert Bencze and his wife Mary of Poolville,
N.Y. and Thomas Bencze and his wife Janelle of Rotterdam. His grandchildren,
Kristen and Nicholas Bencze, Michael, Maria and Anthony Pantuosco, Jason and
Jennifer Bencze and Malcolm Bencze. He is also survived by his sisters, Anna
and Terez; and many nieces and nephews in Hungary. Calling hours will be held
on Thursday, September 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at New Comer-Cannon Family
Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Avenue).
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home then
to St. Joseph's Church, Schenectady where a Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. The family has
requested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the
American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 or to the
American Lung Association, 3 Winners Circle, Suite 300, Albany, NY 12205 in
memory of Stephen Bencze.
Published in the Albany Times Union from 9/8/2004 - 9/9/2004.