John "Little Soupy" Kendzior

Allegany- John Paul “Soupy” Kendzior passed away Wednesday (September 14, 2022) peacefully after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease at The Pines in Machias.

Soupy was born October 3, 1941, to John “Bosh” and Helen (Fidurko)  Kendzior in Olean.  He was a 1961 graduate of Olean High School and a member of the National Guard.  He began his career at Agway-Felmont Industries and retired from St. Bonaventure University, where he did maintenance and managed events like concerts and St. Bonaventure basketball games.  Soupy loved his time at St. Bonaventure, and particularly enjoyed the basketball games, meeting the players and coaches, and all the students who worked with him over the years.  

Soupy was a longtime member of the St. Stephen’s Club and the Pulaski Club in North Olean, where he grew up and lived most of his life.  Soupy loved Olean, watching sports, golfing at every opportunity, jogging, walking, spending time with his friends and family, and chatting with everyone he ran into. It was impossible to go anywhere with Soupy without running into someone he just had to stop and say hello to and that was true to the end. Soupy will be missed by all that knew and loved him and will always be remembered for his sense of humor and his legendary, lifelong, jet-black hair (it was real!). 

Soupy is survived by his son, Jeffrey M. (Jenna Cargill) Kendzior, his younger sister Annmarie Diffenderfer, and his nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Linda Kendzior, his son John P. Kendzior, his parents Bosh and Helen, and his older brother, Donald J. “Big Soupy” Kendzior.  

Family will receive friends on Friday (September 16, 2022) from 4-6pm at the Guenther Funeral Home Inc., 1303 E. State Street, Olean for a memorial visitation.  Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at donations@michaeljfox.org.  

Online condolences can be expressed as www.guentherfh.com.