Obituaries by LocationHarding, John
June 22, 2000
John J. Harding, of RR 1 Sugar Run, Wilmont Township, died Thursday at his home.
Born in Pittston, he was a son of the late Floyd and Mary (Colwell) Harding. He was a graduate of Wyoming Memorial High School, was a plant statistician for Shoemaker Dairy, Wilkes-Barre, senior accountant for Philco Corp., Philadelphia, and a civilian employee for the Department of Army, Washington, D.C., as a program budget analyst in research and development. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the Wyoming United Methodist Church, Landmark Lodge 442 F & AM, Wilkes-Barre, and the National Rifle Association.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, the former Geraldine Shaw.
Surviving are his sons, Richard and Robert, both of Shickshinny; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; brothers, Richard, Dallas; Floyd "Sam," Liverpool, N.Y.; and William Clarence, West Pittston; sisters, Violet, Syracuse, N.Y.; Janet Crosby, Wilkes-Barre; and Dorcas Davis, Swoyersville; 28 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday from the Joseph L. Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with the Rev. Michael Shambora officiating. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, Kingston Township. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hollenback United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 155 Wyalusing, 18853; or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Krakowski, Stephen
June 22, 2000
Stephen J. Krakowski, 76, of Shannon Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, died Thursday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born May 31, 1924, in Wilkes-Barre Township, he was a son of the late Andrew and Anna (Tkac) Krakovskicq . He was a contractor, worked for the J.B. Post Co. and death by his brothers, George, Andrew, Joseph and Jack; and sisters, Mary Sobolesky and Susan Krakovskicq .
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, the former Mary Baldovsky; sons, Ronald, Dallas; Stephen, at home; one grandson; sister, Anna Giacomo, Wilkes-Barre; brothers, Michael, Neshanic, N.J.; and Frank, Allentown; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, Park Avenue and South Street, Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Slovak Church. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dallas. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Wilkes-Barre.
Leavesley, Charles
June 21, 2000
Charles D. Leavesley Sr., of Clarks Summit, formerly of the South Abington Township area, died Wednesday at Mercy Hospital, Scranton.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Charles D. and Susan (Haslam) Leavesley. He worked at the Philadelphia Electric Co. and was a shift superintendent of the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. He was a member of the Chinchilla United Methodist Church, Friendship-Williams Lodge 400, F & AM, the Dallas Town and Abington Lions clubs, Scranton Regional Antique Automobile Club of America and the First Presbyterian Church choir.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, the former Margaret J. Hoffman; sons, Robert H., Hatboro; Charles D., Jr., Clarks Summit; and Gary W., Red Lion; daughter, Carol L. Thomas, Shavertown, Kingston Township; five grandchildren, one great-granddaughter; brother, George H., Sarasota, Fla.; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday from the Lawrence Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit, with services by the Rev. Martin W. Bovee. Interment will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to Chinchilla United Methodist Church, 105 Church St., Chinchilla.
McMullen, Patricia
June 21, 2000
Patricia (Major) McMullen, of Marietta, Ga., died Wednesday at the Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, Ga.
Born in Kingston, she was a daughter of the late Harold and Edna (Blaine) Major. She was a graduate of Lyons Township High School, La Grange, Ill., and Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill. She taught elementary school in Illinois and Ohio and was a substitute teacher in Cobb County, Georgia.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Rachel Major.
Surviving are her husband of 45 years, Nelson T.; son, Matthew, Billings, Mont.; daughter, Anne Ireland, Longmont, Colo.; two granddaughters; brother, Harold Major, Newville; and sister, Ella Morin, Newville.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Lehman Center Cemetery, Lehman, with the Rev. Bonnie McGraw officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association; or to the charity of the donor's choice. Local funeral arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., Pikes Creek.
Patton, Leila
June 23, 2000
Leila A. Patton, 94, of Gracious Living Estates, Montrose, formerly of Miller Street, Luzerne, died Friday at Endless Mountain Health Systems, Montrose.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
Penkowski, Irene
June 23, 2000
Irene (Halesey) Penkowski, 85, of Main Road, Hanover Green section of Hanover Township, died Friday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the James M. Desiderio Funeral Home, Inc., 2 Academy Road, Marion Terrace, Hanover Township.
Prushinski, Anna
June 23, 2000
Anna M. Prushinski, 90, of Honey Pot Street, Nanticoke, died Friday at the Nanticoke Special Care Hospital.
Born in Plymouth, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Magdalene (Yackimowicz) Norkunas. She was a graduate of Plymouth High School, was a housekeeper for several families and a presser for Mara Manufacturing, Nanticoke. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church and Six County Fireman's Ladies Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael; and brothers, John, Anthony, Walter, Frank, Charles and Albert.
Surviving are her son, Anthony, and daughter-in-law, Linda Coleman, with whom she resided; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday from the Grontkowski Funeral Home, P.C., 51-53 W. Green St., Nanticoke, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Slusser, Ralph
June 23, 2000
Ralph E. Slusser, 82, of East Fifth Street, Nescopeck, died Friday at his home.
Born Aug. 30, 1917, in Nescopeck, he was a son of the late Stephen and Margaret (Campbell) Slusser. He was a carpenter with various contractors and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Nescopeck, member, chief and lifetime trustee of the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Co., member and commander of the Nescopeck Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, commander of District 11 Veterans of Foreign Wars and County Council.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Hazel Arlene Rinehimer; brothers, Derwood, Harry, Charles, Carl and Roy; and sisters, Elizabeth Smith, Pauline Harvey, Virginia Bowersox and Audrey Probst.
Surviving are her stepson, Emil Rinehimer, at home; one sister, Lana Gorga, Nescopeck.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck. Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Stroney, John
June 22, 2000
John J. "Jack" Stroney, of the Clarks Green, died Thursday at the Hospice Unit at the Community Medical Center, Scranton.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Martin and Mary (McColley) Strojny. He was a local manager for Bell Telephone, Scranton, and a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of the Abington Rotary Club and the Church of St. Gregory, Clarks Green, where he served on the building committee, president of the Abington Heights School Board, was on the Clarks Green Borough Council, member and president of the Scranton Rotary Club, co-founder of the Abington Basketball League, the voice of the University of Scranton Lady Royals and served many civic organizations.
Surviving are his wife of 44 years, the former Marie Trudy Trudnak; sons, Mark J., Mehoopany; Scott M., Charlottesville, Va.; and Brian J., Mill City; daughter, Karen M., Dalton; two grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Strucko, Camp Hill; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday from the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit, with Mass at 9 a.m. at the Church of St. Gregory. Monsignor John Louis will officiate. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dallas. Friends may call from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to the Inpatient Unit of the VNA Hospice at Community Medical Center; Rotary Club of the Abington Scholarship Fund; or the Teen Mercy, 1428 Pittston Ave., Scranton, 18509.
Trotta, Clara
June 22, 2000
Clara E. Trotta, of Center Street, Pittston, died Thursday at home.
Born in the Old Boston section of Jenkins Township, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Jennie (Chairge) Dalessandro. She was a graduate of Jenkins Township schools and was a waitress at The Nook. She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Pittston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; sisters, Mamie Maury, Mary Rowe; and brothers, James and Charles Dalessandro.
Surviving are her daughters, Shirley, with whom she resided; Phyllis Kane, Brigantine, N.J.; and Dolores Korpita, Kenvil, N.J.; sons, Richard, Jr., Exeter; and Danny, Dupont; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; brother, Patrick Dalessandro, Plains Township; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Adonizio Funeral Home, Inc., 251 William St., Pittston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Burial will be in Marcy Cemetery, Duryea. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church; or to Northeast Health Care Hospice, Pittston.
Wolfe, Kenneth
June 22, 2000
Kenneth J. Wolfe Sr., 46, of North Sherman Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born March 23, 1954, in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of Gladys (Hacker) Wolfe and the late William Wolfe. He was a sheet metal worker for Penn Refrigeration, Hanover Township.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 26 years, the former Sharon A. Letukas; daughters, Angela Brady, Wilkes-Barre; Victoria and Dakota, both at home; son, Kenneth James, Jr., Middlesex, N.J.; five grandchildren; brother, William, Kansas; and Ronald, Wilkes-Barre; sisters, Linda Hacker, Wilkes-Barre; Roxanne, Shavertown, Kingston Township.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the John W. Frank Funeral Home, 124 S. Grant St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church of the Maternity, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Clark, Frederick
July 3, 2000
Frederick F. Clark, of Tunkhannock, died Monday at Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock.
Born March 21, 1927, in Gillett, South Gibson, he was a son of the late Frederick and Annabelle (Pratt) Clark. He was self-employed as a logger in the lumber business and was a U.S. Army veteran of the World War II. He was a member of the Tunkhannock Odd Fellows, the Tunkhannock Dennis Strong Post of the American Legion and its Rebakahs Chapter.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances (Southard) Clark; granddaughter, Katie; and brothers, Mike, Lawrence and Harry.
Surviving are his sons, Wayne, Sussex, N.J.; and Garry, Laceyville; daughters, Fay Clark, Debbie Clark Compton and Judy Clark, all of Tunkhannock, five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Thursday from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. The Rev. Catherine Parsons will officiate. Interment will be in Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Dorosky, Vera
July 3, 2000
Vera Dorosky, formerly of Luzerne, died Monday at Highland Manor Nursing Home, Exeter.Funeral arrangements are pending from the Metcalfe & Shaver Funeral Home, Inc., Wyoming.
Funke, Teresa
July 2, 2000
Teresa Funke, 46, of Nuangola, died Sunday at Hershey Medical Center.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of Elizabeth (Onofrey) Ricko, Plymouth; and the late Rudolph Ricko. She attended school in the Wyoming Valley West School District, was a 1972 graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School and worked at Triangle Pharmacy, Mountaintop. She was a member of St. Jude's Roman Catholic Church, Mountaintop, was a homeroom mother in the Crestwood School District and was involved in her sons' sporting activities, especially baseball.
Surviving are her husband of 17 years, Paul; sons, Michael Prestas III, Paul Funke III and Christopher Funke, all at home; sister, Lorraine Werts, Nanticoke; brothers, Donald, Hanover Township; and Thomas and Robert, both of Plymouth; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday from The Desiderio Funeral Home, Inc., 436 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountaintop, state Route 309. The Rev. Father Paul Mullen will officiate. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Teresa Funke Mountain Legion baseball scholarship fund, 16 Lance St., RD 8, Mountaintop, 18707.
Granick, Ann Marie
July 3, 2000
Ann Marie Granick, of Columbia Avenue, Ashley, died Monday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the John W. Frank Funeral Home, 124 S. Grant St., Wilkes-Barre.
Hapeman, Paul
June 30, 2000
Paul Leroy Hapeman, 72, of Rockwood, Tenn., formerly of the East End section of Wilkes-Barre, and Hilldale section of Plains Township, died Friday at his home of injuries suffered when he was crushed by a riding mower, which he was operating on his property.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Leroy and Gertrude (Nieman) Hapeman. He was a 1945 graduate of the James M. Coughlin High School. He was a heavy equipment operator with the B.G. Coon Construction Co., Kingston, a diesel mechanic with Friedman's Express Co., Wilkes-Barre, and a mechanic with J. & H. Concrete, Wilkes-Barre, and was a technician with Golden Business Machines, Kingston. He served in the U.S. Navy briefly after World War II. He was a member, station steward, Sunday school teacher, superintendent and choir member of the East End Primitive Methodist Church, Wilkes-Barre, member and master of Lodge 61, F & AM, Wilkes-Barre, member of Caldwell Consistory, AASR, Bloomsburg, and Irem Temple, AAONMS, Wilkes-Barre, member, lay preacher, Sunday school teacher and choir member at the Piney Grove Baptist Church, Midtown, Tenn.; and was active with Habitat for Humanity.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Paula Powell.
Surviving are his wife of 50 years, the former Jean Zeek; sons, Dwight D., Camp Hill; and Mark P., Naples, Fla.; sister, Gertrude Chere O'Conner, Tabor City, N.C.; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be at 6 p.m. today at the Piney Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Hapeman had requested that his body be sent to the medical Donation Program of the University of Tennessee Medical College, Memphis, Tenn. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriner's Hospital, c/o Irem Temple, Box 309, Dallas, 18612. Local funeral arrangements are by the H. Merritt Hughes Funeral Home, Inc., 451 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.
Houlihan, Fred
July 2, 2000
Fred T. Houlihan, 83, of McAuley Drive, Dallas, died Sunday at the Mercy Center, Dallas.
Born in Scranton, he was a son of the late Joseph G. and Marie (Moran) Houlihan. He was a graduate of St. Patrick's High School, Olyphant, the University of Scranton, and attended the Temple University School of Law. He was a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, last serving in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton offices. He was a member of Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas, its Holy Name Society, and the Society of Former FBI Agents.
He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy J.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Margaret O'Connor; son, Fred T., Jr., State College; daughter, Peggy, Herndon, Va.; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; brothers, Joseph G., Jr., Justus; and attorney Daniel J., Clarks Green.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday from the Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, Inc., 672 Memorial Highway, Dallas, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Mercy Center. The Rev. Frank G. Kulick will officiate. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, Box 370, Lake Street, Dallas, 18612.
Kocher, Georgette
July 2, 2000
Georgette Kocher, of Wilkes-Barre, formerly of the Back Mountain area and Kingston, died Sunday.
Born in Marseilles, France, she was a daughter of Rose Maggi, Kingston, and the late Elie Maggi. She received an associate's degree in hotel and restaurant management from Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, and was a cosmetologist for the former Pomeroy's Department Store.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her daughters, Rosemary Standarowski, Edwardsville; Virginia Barba, Lansdale; Janine Cobb, Lewistown; son, Jason, Edwardsville; eight grandchildren; sister, Helen, Kunkle; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Wilkes-Barre. Funeral arrangements will be by the Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 465 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.
McFadden, William
July 1, 2000
William J. McFadden Sr., 71, of Wilkes-Barre, formerly of Allentown, died Saturday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late John B., Sr., and Catherine G. (Gallagher) McFadden. He was a maintenance worker at various Pocono resorts and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Surviving are his son, William J., Jr., Jerome, Ariz.; and sisters, Helen M., Allentown; and Mary M. Kingsley, Bethlehem.
A private service and interment will be held. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Funeral arrangements will be by the Robert C. Weir Funeral Home, 18th and Turner streets, Allentown.
Navin, Helen
July 2, 2000
Helen M. Navin, 83, of Indian Lake Trail, Buck Township, formerly of Elizabeth, N.J., died Sunday at home.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, Jan. 26, 1917, daughter of the late Roman and Victoria (Kosik) Romaskevicz. She worked in Civil Defense in Linden, N.J., the garment industry in Elizabeth, N.J., and for Rose Mar Dress Co., Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James; sisters, Anna Grohowski and Mary Royer; half-brother, Skip Sanko; and half-sister, Viola Sanko.
Surviving are her daughter, Beverly J. Calabrese, Virginia; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; sister, Stella Romaskevicz, Wilkes-Barre; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the John W. Frank Funeral Home, 124 S. Grant St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Church, Bear Creek. Interment will be in the mausoleum in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
O'Rourke, John
July 2, 2000
John C. O'Rourke Sr., 51, of Wilkes-Barre, died Sunday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of Alice (Brannigan) O'Rourke and the late Edward J. O'Rourke. He was a 1966 graduate of St. Mary's High School, Wilkes-Barre, and received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Scranton. He was a certified public accountant in New York and Texas, senior manager and partner of audit and accounting practice for KPMG Peat Marwick, San Antonio, Texas, Housing Consultant for Wyoming Homes, Exeter, and independent financial insurance consultant. He was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his son, John C., Jr., Austin, Texas; daughters, Dr. Megan Schroeder, Houston; and Amy O'Rourke, College Station, Texas; brother, attorney Thomas, Denver; sister, Catherine Walsh, New York City; and one nephew.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Corcoran Funeral Home, 20 S. Main St., Plains Township, with Father Timothy Delaney officiating. A Memorial Mass will be announced at a later date. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday.
