Our Parish Family - The Vosnicks

Don and Carolyn Vosnick moved to Shrewsbury in February of 2009 after living and working on the family farm in Washington County Pennsylvania for 38 years. They are both retired educators and moved to Shrewsbury to be near their grandchildren.

Don and Carolyn met at California State College of PA. They chuckle about how they met. It was in the dining hall kitchen. Don worked as the “head kitchen boy” and Carolyn worked as a waitress. After college they both worked for a year as teachers before getting married on June 15, 1968. Carolyn and Don celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2018. Their son, Robert, was born in 1969, and their daughter, Christine, was born in 1971.

Don was a professional educator for 36 years. He was a science teacher and during his career he taught: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, and Environmental Science. He also taught Anatomy & Physiology for the last ten years of his career. Carolyn was a mathematics teacher and taught: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Business Math during her career.

Their son Robert graduated from the United State Merchant Marine Academy as a Marine Systems Engineer. Rob possesses a chief engineer’s license for steam, motor, and turbine vessels of unlimited tonnage. He works for Military Sealift Command as a supervising port engineer. The USNS Comfort and the USNS Hope are among the ships MSC operates. Christine graduated from California University of PA with a BS in elementary education and a M. Ed. as a reading specialist. She pursued additional graduate studies at Lehigh University. She works for the Dallastown Area School District as a Reading Specialist and Instructional Support Teacher.

Carolyn and Don feel blessed that they can see and spend time with their two grandchildren, Christian and Julia, every day. Christian is 17 and will be a senior at York Catholic High School. He enjoys playing the guitar, running, walking, gaming, and having fun with his beagle, Casey. His future plans involve microelectronics. Julia will be attending Susquehannock Middle School as a 7th grader. She enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and cross-country.

In addition to being with the grandchildren, Carolyn enjoys sitting on the patio (her “outdoor room”) with a good book. She likes walking, being with friends (Covid -19 is slowing this enjoyment, but not totally), and watching movies. She is actively involved in the Church. She is a Eucharistic Minister during the weekday and Sunday masses, and takes communion to the homebound. She is also a lector for the daily Masses. She is a sacristan for the 9 AM Sunday mass. Carolyn also devotes time in the Adoration Chapel and assists in the coordination of the 8 AM adoration time period. For the past three years, she has facilitated a Divine Mercy Cenacle at her home every Friday. She is involved in Bible studies and helped out in the parish kitchen during the Lenten Dinners.

Don is also very active. However, he does not enjoy anything that requires sitting. Sitting is problematic for Don due to his neuropathy. He enjoys being with friends, working in the yard/garden, woodworking, remodeling, electrical work, numismatics, and cooking. Don used his joy of cooking by being a cook for the Church and the Knights of Columbus for the past 11 years. Don is an usher and sacristan for the 9 AM Mass on Sundays. Don was very active in the Knights of Columbus, serving in many offices, including the Grand Knight of council 8891. Additionally, as a 4th degree Sir Knight, Don has held numerous offices with Assembly 944, including Faithful Navigator. He now finds it more difficult to be very active and is cutting back on his involvement with the Knights. “I won’t be cooking for the Knights, but I hope I can continue to cook for the Church.” He said, “It is time for me to step aside and provide an opportunity for younger Knights to become more involved.” Don believes the Knights of Columbus is a good niche to find friends and get involved. He invites all Catholic males, 18 + to take advantage of the benefits the Knights of Columbus offers.