Laura Elizabeth Pondel Szewczuk

Laura Pondel Szewczuk, age 98, passed away peacefully at Life Care Center at Wells Crossing in Orange Park, Florida on May 18, 2025. She had been a resident there since February 2022. Previously, Laura lived with her daughter Lynette and son-in-law Hugh McCombs in their home in Orange Park for several years while in the early stages of dementia.

Laura was the fourth of six children of John and Sophie Volen Pondel. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she grew up on the family dairy farm in Columbus, Pennsylvania. She attended the one-room Webber School house, located on the family farm in Columbus, then attended and graduated from Corry Area High School in 1945. Laura retired from Associated Spring Barnes Group in Corry, Pennsylvania. in 1986. At the time of her retirement, she moved to Florida with her daughter and son-in-law and family. She owned a small home in Orange Park for a number of years until she began living with daughter Lynette and son-in-law Hugh at age 89.

Laura loved growing flowers and plants and truly had a green thumb. She loved yard work and landscaping, as well as all kinds of decorating. She enjoyed doing silk flower arranging and crafts, and was also known for a beautiful Christmas yard decoration display each year at her home. Always healthy and active, Laura loved polka music and going to polka dances, which she traveled to for many years both before and during her retirement years. She also enjoyed country western music and attended various line dances and square dances. In her later years, her TV was always tuned to “Polka Joe” or the “Grand Ole Opry.”

In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph Pondel, Henry Pondel, and Thaddeus Pondel, two sisters, Jenny Messinger and Helen Ficcardi, son-in-law Hugh McCombs, and daughter-in-law Betty Miller Host.

She is survived by son, Gene Host of Corry, Pennsylvania., daughter Lynette McCombs of Orange Park, Florida., three grandchildren; Stephanie Titch of Corry, Jeremy McCombs (Corrin) of Orange Park, Florida, and Ashley Nelson (Andrew) of Vero Beach, Florida., and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Hardage-Giddens Holly Hill Funeral Home, 3601 Old Jennings Road, Middleburg, Florida., on Tuesday, May 27, at 10:30 am. Committal will be immediately following services at Peoria Cemetery,142 East Jefferson Avenue, Orange Park, Florida.