Grandpa John came to the U.S. from Kiev, UKR in 1908.  He started the business that bears our name with A. Gabel in Hopelawn, NJ.  In 1919 they dissolved the partnership and we moved three blocks over and started Shevchenko Monumental Works where we still are today. 

John had four children (Phil, Ann, John, and Nick) all who worked the business from an early age.  When Grandpa passed away in 1946, Phil and Nick ran the business after the depression. They put all of their heart and soul into the business being proud of their family name. 

As time passed, they expanded the business by increasing their display and closing off their old drafty building.

Grandma would not only cook for her sons, she would be out there moving stones and helping out the best that she could.  Ann married Mike Solovey in 1947 and moved into a house two blocks from the shop. 

Mike, an army veteran and an extremely good worker began working part time with the business until he passed away in 1972.  Phil and Nick stayed “married” to their business, but Nick soon found his second love Susan. 

They were married in 1958.  Phil and Nick bought out a monument company in Fords where Nick and Susan raised their family.  They used this yard as a display only.

Nick and Sue had four children.  Judy, Nick Jr. Jim, and Cindi all of whom began working the business at an early age.  Phil passed away in 1977.  Nick and Family then moved into Grandma’s house next to the shop. 

Nick soon hired an older gentleman named Steve who had worked at two other monument companies (such as Gabel Monuments, A. Gabel’s son’s business) for many years.  He loved our family and soon began to work with us full time.

With Steve leaving Gabel, and Ed’s business growing, Ed had us carve his stone at our modern shop. (Did history just repeat itself?)

Ed Gabel, a true craftsman of many years would often visit and supervise the production of his stones.  During this time he shared with us his knowledge of stone crafting.  We all became one happy family and I doubt any company has as many years of expertise, knowledge, and skills under one roof.

As Nick became ill from years of breathing in stone dust he continued to drill into us his beliefs and standards which made him successful.  He passed away March 19, 1999.  Today, Mom still works at the shop just as she did with dad.  Nick Jr. and Wayne keep the shop going.  Always looking to the future so our sons could keep the business and family name going. 

We still do all of our own work even in with this web page. (which was designed by our cousin Chuck Masarik).