Obituaries by LocationKovaleski, Anna
June 14, 2000
Anna Kovaleski, 84, died peacefully in her sleep at The Kent, a specialty care facility in Kent, Conn., on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, where she resided for the past four years.
Born June 18, 1915, in Larksville, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Herko) Chorey. She attended Larksville schools and had worked at the Duplan Silk Mill. She was previously living at the Danbury Commons, Danbury, Conn., and spent most of her life in Pennsylvania. She was a member of St. Adalbert's Church in Glen Lyon and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 539.
She was preceded in death
by her loving husband, Stephen; and brothers, Michael, Joseph and George.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Stephen Balkunas, of Brookfield, Conn.; a grandson, Stephen Balkunas Jr., of Chicago, Ill.; a granddaughter, Brenda Balkunas, Madison, Wis.; a brother, Nicholas, Dallas; a brother, Peter, Larksville; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Monday, June 19, from the Grontkowski Funeral Home, 51 W. Green St., Nanticoke, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45 a.m. at the St. Adalbert's Church. Interment will be in St. Adalbert's Church Cemetery in Glen Lyon. Friends May call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Contributions may be made to St. Adalbert's Church, 31 S. Market St., Glen Lyon, 18617.
Hall, Bernard
June 14, 2000
Bernard "Ben," Hall, 58, of Ridge Street, Ashley, died Wednesday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born Oct. 13, 1941, in Charlottesville, Va., he was a son of Caleb Hall, Kingston, and the late Alice (Smith) Hall. He was a 1959 graduate of GAR Memorial High School and a graduate of the Jersey Bible Institute, New Jersey. He was a bus driver for LCTA, pastor of the Buttonwood Congregational Church and a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Caleb, Lester and Ronald; and sister, Ophelia.
Surviving, in addition to his father, are his wife of 36 years, the former Priscilla Matthews; daughter, Martha Wright, Dallas; one granddaughter; brothers, Jackson, Wilkes-Barre; Louis, Springfield, Fla.; Harold, Greenville, S.C.; Melvin, Exeter; and Charles, Duryea; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, Park Avenue and South Street, Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Robert Matthews officiating. Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Calvary Mission, P.O. Box 141, Wilkes-Barre, 18703.
Goobic, Jonah
June 15, 2000
Jonah Goobic, of Lake Pinecrest, RR 3 Shickshinny, died Thursday at home.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Yeosock Funeral Home, 40 S. Main St., Plains Township.
Ferenbach, Marion
June 13, 2000
Marion (Shindel) Ferenbach, 89, died at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 13.
She was the loving wife of the late John C. Ferenbach, a former owner of the Leon Ferenbach Corp., in Wilkes-Barre. When the company relocated in 1957, they moved to Johnson City, Tenn., although retaining strong ties to the Wilkes-Barre area.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 9, 1911, she attended Wyoming Seminary and Ward Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn. Her marriage to C. William Bertels, of Wilkes-Barre, ended in divorce. A member of the Westmoreland Club, Mrs. Ferenbach was active in numerous civic and voluntary organizations.
Marion Ferenbach is survived by her sister, Kathryn Hall, Dallas; her daughter, Louise Bertels Porter, Radnor; and Barbados, West Indies; son, Cam Ferenbach, Las Vegas, Nev.; and stepdaughter, Suzanne Ferenbach Saxe, Wilton, Conn. Her sister, Peggy Weaver, also of Dallas; and two stepchildren, John Ferenbach Jr. and Kathleen Ferenbach Ryon are deceased. There are 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Fritsky, Peter
June 15, 2000
Peter Fritsky Sr., 86, of Dallas, died Thursday at the Hospice Community Care Unit at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born April 24, 1914, in Edwardsville, he was the son of the late John and Anna (Zabowskie) Fritskeycq . He was a graduate of Yonkers High School and Yonkers Automotive School. He was a deputy game protector for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, was a heavy equipment operator at The Dodson and Hudak Co., Dallas, and a coal miner for the local coal industry and worked at The Linear Co., Dallas, and in the maintenance department of Bechtel Corp., Berwick. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, Edwardsville, and life member of the National Rifle Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Helen Chorey.
Surviving are his sons, Peter, Jr. and Eugene R., both of Dallas; two granddaughters and two great-grandsons.
Funeral services will be at 9:15 a.m. Saturday from the Simon S. Russin Funeral Home, Inc., 136 Maffett St., Plains Township, with Requiem Services at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church. Protopresbyter Michael Slovesko will officiate. Interment will be in the Eastern Orthodox Lawn of Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Parastas services will be at 8 p.m. Friday, with Protopresbyter Michael Slovesko officiating.
Brozena, Joseph
June 14, 2000
Joseph Brozena, 80, of Nesbitt Street, Larksville, died Wednesday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth.
Chabak, Anna
June 15, 2000
Anna (Krulick) Chabak, 94, of Mason Street, Exeter, died Thursday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
She was born March 26, 1906, in Lopez. She worked at the Duplan Silk Mill and was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Pittston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew; brother, John; and sisters, Mary and Kate.
Surviving are her sons, Bernard, Harrisburg; Robert and Andrew, both of Exeter; Eugene, Swoyersville; Albert, Mechanicsburg; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Bednarski Funeral Home, 168 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Exeter. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Bretz, Julia
June 14, 2000
Julia Bretz, of Philadelphia, formerly of Hanover Township, died Wednesday at Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia.
Born May 13, 1911, in Hanover Township, she was the daughter of the late Wasil and Anna Dudjak. She was a member of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Church, Philadelphia.
Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Rudolph; and daughter, Karen Kopchik, Kempton.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday from the Earl W. Lohman Funeral Home, 14 W. Green St., Nanticoke, with Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of funeral Saturday. Interment will be in Transfiguration Cemetery, Nanticoke.
Blannett, Rosilla
June 15, 2000
Rosilla L. Blannett of Courtdale Avenue, Courtdale, died Thursday at the Hospice Care of the VNA at Heritage House, Wilkes Barre.
Born in Courtdale, she was a daughter of the late John F. and Rose (Hodnett) Blannett. She was a life member of the Courtdale United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, William, Clyde, Albert and John; sisters, Mildred Buttman, Sadie Pugh, Stella O'Dea and Ann Kennedy.
Surviving are her brother, Ralph, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; sister, Eloise Bowman, Haskell, N.J.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday from the Andrew Strish Funeral Home, 11 Wilson St., Larksville, with the Rev. Carol E. Coleman officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen~ Cemetery, Shavertown, Kingston Township. Friends may from 9 a.m. until time of the service Monday.
Brozena, Joseph
June 14, 2000
Joseph Brozena, 80, of Nesbitt Street, Larksville, died Wednesday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born March 8, 1920, in Plymouth Township, he was a son of the late Walter and Anna (Jola) Brozena. He attended Harter High School, was a supervisor with the Veterans Administration Office for the federal government, chief of the Management Disposal Unit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involved on the Tocks Island Project and appointed the Pennsylvania state service officer for the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as a staff sergeant in the 92nd Fighter Squadron. He was a member of St. Mary's-St. Stephen's Church Community, Plymouth, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5267 and Amvets Post 59, both of Hanover Township; the American Legion Post 33, Plymouth, and Inaugural Class of Leadership Wilkes-Barre Masters program.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mary Leonard; brothers, Walter, Frank and Stanley; and sister, Anna.
Surviving are his sons, Leonard, Larksville; James J., West Pittston; daughter, Mary Jo Wojtovicz, Larksville; three grandchildren; sister, Helen Blaskiewicz, Plymouth; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday from the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's Nativity Church, Plymouth. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Plymouth Township. Friends may call from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. A Prayer Service will be held Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Leadership Wilkes-Barre Masters Program; or to Hospice Care of the VNA, Wilkes-Barre.
Drako, Margaret
June 16, 2000
Margaret M. Drako, 74, of Plains Township, died Friday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born In Plains Township, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Brulo) Herchick. She attended Plains Township schools and was a member of the Wilkes-Barre Senior Citizens Association.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Michael Herchick.
Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Joseph; daughter, Joanne La Quaglia, Montclair, N.J.; son, Joseph, Jr., Plains Township; four grandchildren; sisters, Lorayne Swolensky, Kunkletown; and Emily Howe, Wilkes-Barre; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the Corcoran Funeral Home, 20 S. Main St., Plains Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Saint Peter and Paul Church, Plains Township. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
McNulty, Sally
June 16, 2000
Sally R. McNulty, 99, formerly of North Fillmore Avenue, Scranton, and Dupont, died Friday at the Wesley Village Retirement Center, Jenkins Township, Pittston.
Born in Scranton, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Ellen (Sullivan) Ford. She attended Scranton public schools and worked at the International Correspondence School and the former West Side Hospital, Scranton. She was a member of St. Patrick's Church, Jackson Street, Scranton, and its altar and Rosary and Convent Societies.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin; daughter, Sally Ann Lukasik; sisters, Mary Folan, Cecelia Prietz, Agnes Fawcett and Veronica "Bonnie" Ford; and brother, Michael Ford.
Surviving are one grandson, nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be on Monday from the Vanston Funeral Home, 142 S. Main Ave., Scranton, with a Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church. Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made in memory of her daughter, to the Sally A. Lukasik Memorial Scholarship Fund, 234 Smith Street, Dupont, 18641; or to the Wesley Village Retirement Center.
Monteforte, Jennie
June 15, 2000
Jennie A. Monteforte, 87, of Plymouth Meeting, formerly of Pittston Township, died Thursday of pneumonia.
Born in France, she attended Pittston schools, was a homemaker and a member of St. Rocco's Church in Pittston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph.
Surviving are her son, Fred, with whom she resided; sisters, Mary Costanzo, Massachusetts; and Angie Centerella, New Jersey; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Adonizio Funeral Home, William Street, Pittston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Rocco's Church. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in St. Rocco's Cemetery after a Mass on Wednesday at the church.
Gilhooley, Andrew
June 16, 2000
Andrew Joseph Gilhooley, 69, of Main Street, Avoca, died Friday at his home.
Born April 21, 1931, in Avoca, he was a son of the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Dougherty) Gilhooley. He attended St. Mary's School, Avoca, was a graduate of St. John's High School, Pittston, and the University of Scranton and attended King's College, Wilkes-Barre. He was a caseworker for Social Services, Philadelphia, and was a school teacher in the New Jersey school system. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was a member of St. Mary's Church and Ancient Order of Hibernians, both of Avoca, the Holy Name Society and the West Side Social Club.
Surviving are his brother, James, Avoca; sister, Betty Jane Kelly, Scranton; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 728 Main St., Avoca, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's School Fund, Avoca.
Fronzoni, John H.
June 15, 2000
John H. "Fritz" Fronzoni, 65, of Cooper Street, Pringle, died Thursday in Hospice VNA Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, son of the late Jules and Margaret (Ciechanowicz) Fronzoni. He was a member of Holy Family Parish, of Luzerne, formerly St. Ann's Parish. He attended Pringle schools and graduated from Larksville High School in 1953. He was a bricklayer for the past 47 years and a member of Local 30 Bricklayers Union. He was past president and assistant chief of the Pringle Volunteer Fire Co.
He and his wife, the former Frances "Babe" Danielczyk would have celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on Sept. 11.
His brother, Henry, preceded him in death.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughter, Lisa Malcolm, Mountaintop; sons, John, Larksville; Ronald, Pringle; James, Swoyersville; and Gary, Forty Fort; grandson, John Francis Fronzoni; granddaughters, April Fronzoni, Marina Malcolm and Morgan Malcolm; sisters, Mary Watkins, Pringle; Dolores Madison, Randolph, N.J.; brothers, Edward, Mountaintop; and Paul, Luzerne.
The funeral will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. from the Kopicki Funeral Home, 263 Zerbey Ave., Kingston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Holy Family Parish, St. Ann's Church, Bennett Street, Luzerne. Interment will be in Italian Independent Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pringle Volunteer Fire Co.; Holy Family Parish, of Luzerne; or Hospice VNA, of Luzerne.
James, Ellsworth
April 8, 2000
Ellsworth Philip "Phil" James, 75, of Vienna, Va., died Saturday at Kansas University Medical Hospital, Kansas City, Kan.
Born March 2, 1925, in West Pittston, he was the son of the late Ellsworth Philip "Dud" James Sr. and Margaret Ruth Graham. He was a 1942 graduate of West Pittston High School, worked at the Miners Savings Bank, Pittston, and with the Central Intelligence Agency in the Office of Finance, with experience in the Far East, Middle East, including Vietnam, and was awarded the CIA Career Intelligence Medal. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in England and France, and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard during the Korean War. He was a member of the Vienna Presbyterian Church, Vienna, Va., and St. John's Lodge No. 233 Free and Accepted Masons, Jenkins Township.
Memorial Services will be at 1 p.m. June 23 at the Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St., Vienna, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, Attn: Memorials - In Memory of Ellsworth Philip James, 1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, Va., 22311. Cremation arrangements were by the Newcomer Family Funeral Home, Topeka, Kan.
Kologe, Jean
June 15, 2000
Jean Kologe, 89, of North Main Street, Plains Township, formerly of Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday at Balanced Care, Kingston.
Born in Duryea, she was a daughter of the late Adam and Josephine (Pietrowski) Borowski. She was the former owner of Kologe Tavern, North End, and worked at the General Cigar Factory. She was a member of St. Stanislaus Church, Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; and brothers, Joseph, John, Stanley and Edward.
Surviving are her son, Ronald, Saylorsburg; daughters, Doris Yastremski, Wilkes-Barre; Jean Skiro, Plains Township; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; sisters, Lottie Dido and Stella Ishley, both of Wilkes-Barre.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Yeosock Funeral Home, 40 S. Main St., Plains, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Kowalchin, Louise
June 16, 2000
Louise Kowalchin, of Vista Drive, Nanticoke, died Friday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Mocanaqua, she was a daughter of the late Rinaldo and Anna (DiVergillo) Tiberi. She and her husband owned and operated J 'n L's Tavern, Nanticoke, and she was a member of St. Francis Church, Nanticoke.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, Daniel Sicurella; and sister, Josephine Roberts.
Surviving are her husband, Steve; daughter, Ladye Gerle Sicurella; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; brother, Primo Tiberi, Socorro, N.M.; sisters, Mary Epperson, Nanticoke; Flavia Pollock, West Nanticoke; and Laur-nitacq Tearpock, Mocanaqua.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday from the Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 22 Prospect St., Nanticoke, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Francis Church. Entombment will be in Oak Lawn Mausoleum, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
McHale, James
June 14, 2000
James C. McHale Sr., of Dunmore, died Wednesday at Mercy Hospital, Scranton.
Born in Pittston, he was a son of Grace (O'Malley) McHale, West Pittston, and the late Charles McHale. He was a graduate of St. John's High School, Pittston, and the University of Scranton, and was a traffic engineer for the state Department of Transportation. He was a member of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Chestnut Street, Dunmore, its Holy Name Society, Dunmore Board of Education and the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Dunmore Council. He was president of the Dunmore High School Sports Boosters and Sixth Ward Civic Association, coach and officer in Dunmore Biddy Basketball, the Schautz Teener League and the Dunmore Little League, co-founder of tee-ball and summer recreation supervisor for the borough and started the boroughwide Crime Watch Program.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his sons, James C., Jr. and Michael F., both of Dunmore; daughter, Ellen Krzywicki, Mechanicsburg; two grandsons; brother, Charles, Hughestown; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Monday from the Thomas J. Golden Funeral Home, 2004 Delaware St., Dunmore, with a Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church. Interment will be in Dunmore Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to James C. McHale Sr. Scholarship Fund, c/o First National Community Bank, 102 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, 18512.
Nealon, Helen
June 12, 2000
Helen R. Nealon, 84, formerly of Page Street, Kingston, died Monday at Manorcare Health Services, Kingston.
Born in Plymouth, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Owens) Nealon. She was a 1936 graduate of Kingston High School, an organizer of the 1936 Class reunions and worked at Leslie Fay. She was a member of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston, president, vice president and secretary of the Kaycees Council 302, and president of the Wyoming Valley Junior Council of Catholic Women's Club.
Surviving are her cousins.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Kopicki Funeral Home, 263 Zerbey Ave., Kingston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
