Joseph Konefal

Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in Poland, and returned to Brooklyn as a teenager. In 1962, he settled in Dongan Hills.

Mr. Konefal served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He worked for 30 years as a mechanic at Domino Sugar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, until retiring in 1978.

He was proud of his Polish heritage, and enjoyed polka dancing, baking babka and making pierogies for his family.

Mr. Konefal enjoyed visits to Atlantic City and going to the track to watch the horses race. He also loved the family gatherings during the summer and at Christmas in upstate New York.

He was affectionately known as Dziadzi (Grandpa) at Dance Electra, his daughter Kathleen (Kathy) Gambardella's dance studio in Grasmere, family said.

Mr. Konefal was a parishioner of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, South Beach.

His wife, the former Helen Pycior, died in 2001.

Surviving, along with his daughter, are his sons, Glen and Paul; three brothers, John, Edward and Frank; a sister, Sophie Helkowski, and two grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary R.C. Church, South Beach. Burial will follow in Forest Green Park Cemetery, Morganville, N.J.