James Sanecki

Born December 12, 1950, in Dunkirk, he was the son of the late Emily (Koprowski) Sanecki and Joseph Sanecki and remained a lifelong resident of the community.

Jim worked for many years at Al Tech Specialty Steel as a wire drawer. He also spent time working at The Carriage House in Dunkirk, Fredonia. Outside of work, he devoted much of his life to caring for his mother and aunt as they aged. It wasn’t always easy, but he showed up every day. When something needed doing, people knew they could count on him to step in.

He was a familiar face at the local Polish clubs, always ready to sign in and settle in among friends. Jim never met an item he couldn’t find a future use for, and his collections reflected a life lived with curiosity and humor.

Within the family, he was the comic relief. Quick with a joke and rarely concerned about whether it was appropriate, he had a knack for comments that caught people off guard and left them laughing. Jim was rarely encumbered by political correctness. It was part of what made him unforgettable.

He is survived by his sister, Carol (James) Lajewski; his nephews, Michael and Thomas (Emily) Lajewski; and was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ann Sanecki.

He will be missed most when the family gathers and there’s a pause where his voice should be, breaking the moment, saying something he probably shouldn’t have, but everyone would laugh anyway.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Blessed Mary Angela Church of St Hyacinth; 295 Lake Shore Drive in Dunkirk. The family will be present at the church a half hour before mass starting at 10:30 a.m. A Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited before the mass at 10:45 am. Interment will be held in St. Hyacinth’s Cemetery. Arrangements are by R. Mackowiak Funeral Home, Inc.; 56 East Doughty St., Dunkirk, NY.