Obituaries by LocationMatthews, Ellen
July 14, 2000
Ellen Matthews, 77, of Tarpon Springs, Fla., died Friday at home.
Born in Ransom, she was the daughter of the late George and Ann Rushetar.
She worked for the Ransom Home and the Plainwell Paper Mill and was a member of Our Lady of Snow Catholic Church, Clarks Summit.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Chester; and son, William George.
Surviving are her brother, George, Ransom; sister, Mary Mundy, West Pittston; one grandson; and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Benedict Church, Newton.
Kropp-Hughes, Caroline
July 14, 2000
Caroline S. Kropp-Hughes, 30, of Herndon, Va., formerly of the Shavertown section of Kingston Township, died Friday in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Born Oct. 2, 1969, in Kingston, she was a daughter of Robert L. and Barbara (Dippre) Kropp, of Shavertown. She was a graduate of Lake-Lehman Senior High School and Penn State University, where she received her degree in dietetics. She was a registered dietitian, owned her own consulting firm, worked for children's hospitals in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and recently became certified in pediatric dietetics.
Surviving are her husband, Tyler Thomas Hughes, Herndon, Va.; brother, Edward Kropp, Shavertown; sister, Theresa Kropp, Shavertown; aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 140 N. Main St., Shavertown, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Therese's Church, Shavertown, with Monsignor Peter Crynes officiating. Interment will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery, Pringle. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to McLean Bible Church, 850 Balls Hill Road, McLean, Va., 22101; or to the Hospital for Sick Children, 1731 Bunker Hill Road, NE, Washington, D.C., 20017.
Wagner, Mildred
July 18, 2000
Mildred D. Wagner, 91, of Goldridge, Selma, Calif., died Tuesday in Selma, Calif.
Born Sept. 26, 1908, in Huntsville, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Nellie Jones, former residents of Kingston.
Surviving are her husband, Alden; son, Alden Jr., Lancaster; daughter, Carole Sparkman, Selma, Calif.; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; brother, Earl Jones, Virginia; and sister, Hazel Butcher.
A Memorial Service will be at 11:30 a.m. August 27 at The First United Methodist Church, 1702 Cross St., Selma, Calif., 93662. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the The First United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by the Page Funeral Chapel, 2014 Arrants St., Selma, Calif.
Kroll, Anna
July 19, 2000
Anna (Skordinski) Kroll, died Wednesday at the home of her son, Robert, of Bear Creek.Born April 28, 1918, in the Hanover section of Nanticoke, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Catherine (Fujak) Skordinski. She attended the Nanticoke schools and worked at various dress plants. She was a member of the Holy Transfiguration Church, Hanover section of Nanticoke.
Kvedrovicz, Richard
July 18, 2000
Rev. Richard J. Kvedrovicz, of Nanticoke, died Tuesday at the Community Medical Center, Scranton.
Born May 12, 1946, in Nanticoke, he was a son of the late Bolish and Helen (Bohinski) Kvedrovicz. He attended St. Stanislaus School, Nanticoke, St. Anthony of Padua High School, Watkins Glen, N.Y., St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md., the University of Scranton and St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure, N.Y. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton. He was an assistant pastor at St. Matthew's Church, East Stroudsburg, served in a similar capacity at St. Gabriel's Church, Hazleton, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Dickson City, St. Stanislaus Church and the Church of the Holy Trinity, both of Nanticoke. His first pastorate was at St. Stanislaus, Old Forge. He was a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, pastor of the Church of St. Casimir, Freeland, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Duryea, and St. Joseph Church, Hudson section of Plains Township.
Surviving are his aunt, Anna Ondek, Dallas; uncle, Raymond Bohinski, Nanticoke; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Anthony.
A Pontifical Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Stanislaus Church, with the Most Rev. James C. Timlin, DD, bishop of Scranton, officiating. Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, Kingston Township. Arrangements will be by the Grontkowski Funeral Home, Nanticoke.
O'Keefe, Gervase
July 18, 2000
Gervase F. O'Keefe, 73, of Levittown, died Tuesday at home.
Born in Exeter, he was a son of the late John and Mary Louise O'Keefe. He worked in the painting business and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
He was preceded in death by his brother, William.
Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Ann; daughter, Dr. Margaret Slusser, Bear Creek; sons, Mark, Helena, Mont.; Jack and Neil, both of Levittown; Matthew, Harrisburg; and Jerome and his children, Crystal and Brandon, who resided with him; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Kevin, Florida; and sister, Mary L. Musto, West Pittston.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Immaculate Conception Church, Levittown. Family and friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Beck-Givnish Funeral Home, Lower Bucks, 7400 New Falls Road, Levittown. Interment will be in Forest Hills Cemetery.
Robaczewski, Regina
July 19, 2000
Regina C. Robaczewski, 91, of Plymouth, died Wednesday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born July 3, 1909, in Plymouth, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Sophia (Zawodniak) Robaczewski. She was a graduate of Plymouth High School and Wilson College, Chambersburg, and attended Muhlenburg College, Wisconsin University and Syracuse University. She was a librarian for the Wyoming Valley West School District and a history teacher and librarian for the Plymouth School District. She was a member of St. Mary's-St. Stephen's Church Community, Plymouth, its Altar and Rosary Society and Church Sodality, PSEA and the NEA, was affiliated with the Plymouth Public Library and was honored as Woman of the Year by the Professional Plymouth Women's Club.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Theodore Robak and Clem Rogers.
Surviving are her brother, Al Robak, Forty Fort; one nephew and several nieces.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday 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 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wilson College, Chambersburg; The Plymouth Public Library; or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Larkin Sr., John
July 19, 2000
John M. Larkin Sr., 79, of Harriet Street, Parsons section of Wilkes-Barre, died Wednesday at his home.
Born March 13, 1921, in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late John J. and Margaret (Hines) Larkin. He attended the Wilkes-Barre schools and worked at the former International Color Printing Co. and for the city of Wilkes-Barre. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and member of St. Dominic's Church, Wilkes-Barre, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6227, Parsons.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Williams, Kathryn Jenkins and Anna Pryor.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, the former Margaret "Peggy" McHugh; sons, John M., Jr., Kingston; and Patrick, Niantic, Conn.; daughters, Peggy Martin, Kingston; Mary Hayward and Ann Cherinko, Wilkes-Barre; Kathleen Kowalski, Luzerne; and Ellen Havrilla, Jenkins Township; 17 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Saturday from the E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Dominic's Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Dominic's Church, Wilkes-Barre.
Fuller, Theodore
July 17, 2000
Theodore Harold Fuller, 85, of Lower Demunds Road, Dallas, died Monday at the Valley Crest Nursing Home, Plains Township.
Born Jan. 19, 1915, in Noxen, he was the son of the late Fred and Elizabeth (White) Fuller. Before retiring, he was truck driver.
Surviving are 13 children.
Interment will be at 10 a.m. Friday from the Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville section of Jackson Township. Arrangements are by the McLaughlin Funeral Service.
Gai, Paul
July 18, 2000
Paul Gai, 80, of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., died Tuesday, July 18, 2000, at his home.
He was born in West Pittston, the son of the late Albert and Mary (Polinski) Gai. He was a retired bridge inspector for Lehigh Valley Railroad. Mr. Gai served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the American Legion Turner Schrader Post 34.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa (Capizzi) Gai, of the residence; one daughter, Ruth G. Jordan, of Ocracoke, N.C.; thee sisters, Isabel DeLucca, Corrine Gai and Pauline Jefferey, all of West Pittston; one brother, Alex Gai, of Fairless Hills; and two grandsons, Donald Paul Gordon and George Albert Jordan, both of Ocracoke, N.C.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to Dare County Hospice, P.O. Box 1000, Manteo, N.C., 27954; or to the Ocracoke Fire Department, P.O. Box 332, Ocracoke, N.C., 27960. Twiford Colony Chapel, Manteo, N.C., is in charge of the arrangements.
Ascani, Nancy
July 19, 2000
Nancy Ascani, 89, of South Main Street, Pittston, died Wednesday at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.
Born March 25, 1911, in West Pittston, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Jennie (Melone) Recine. She was a graduate of West Pittston High School and worked in the area garment industry, including Lee Manufacturing, Pittston. She was a member of St. Rocco's Roman Catholic Church, Pittston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry; brothers, Dominick, Aldino and Anthony Recine; and infant sisters, Lina and Carmella Minicozzi.
Surviving are her sister, Louise Ogle, Spring Hill, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Friday from the Graziano Funeral Home, Inc., 700 Pittston Blvd., Pittston Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Rocco's Roman Catholic Church. Interment will be in West Pittston Cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m. until service time Friday.
Tucker, Larry
July 19, 2000
Larry Tucker, 58, of East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Wednesday at Hospice Care of the VNA, Wilkes-Barre.He was born on Feb. 4, 1942.Surviving are brothers, Clarence Tucker, Arizona; John Tucker, Wilkes-Barre; and sister, Lillian DaSilva, Edwardsville.
Manko, Harry
July 20, 2000
Harry Manko, 84, of McCarragher Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre.Born April 21, 1916, in Detroit, he was the son of the late Stanley and Catherine Manko and attended Larksville schools.
Parris, Frederic
July 19, 2000
Frederic B. Parris, 90, of Easton, and formerly of Keyport, N.J., and Wilkes-Barre, died Wednesday at Easton Hospital.Born Dec. 24, 1909, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late William Frederic and May (Blakemore) Parris. He was a 1928 graduate of Manual Trades High School, Brooklyn, and attended St. John University and St. Joseph's Seraphic Seminary in New York.
Wesley Drugotch, Harriet E.
July 19, 2000
Harriet E. Wesley Drugotch, 77, a former resident of Pikes Creek and Forty Fort, died Wednesday at ManorCare Health Services, Kingston.
Born Oct. 14, 1922, in Pikes Creek, Lake Township, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin F. and Laura J. Bronson Wesley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Drugotch; brothers, Bernard F. and Floyd E. Wesley.
Surviving are her nephew, Eugene and Katherine Wesley, Apalachin, N.Y.; grand-niece, Meridith Wesley, Arlington, Va.; several cousins; and dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Post, Shickshinny; and Carol Davison, Kingston.
Graveside services were held Thursday at Maple Grove Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Clarke Piatt Funeral Home, Inc., 6 Sunset Lake Road, Hunlock Creek.
Dombek, John
July 20, 2000
John A. Dombek, of Philadelphia, formerly of West Maple Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday after a long illness.
Born Sept. 18, 1917, in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late Nicholas and Helen Dombek.
He was a graduate of Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre.
He worked as a painting contractor and a real estate broker in the Philadelphia area.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, David, George and Nicholas; and sister, Mary.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; son, John Jr., Philadelphia; brothers, Rabbi Harry, Tunkhannock; Joseph, Kingston; and Larry, Thornhurst; and sisters, Helen Pryor, Julia Masterson and Catherine Baron, all of Swoyersville; Anna Monaghan, North End, Wilkes-Barre; and Mildred Biscontini, Mountaintop.
Funeral services were Thursday, with interment in Fern Knoll Cemetery, Dallas.
Shiva will be from 7 to 9 p.m. daily at the Tunkhannock residence of his brother, Rabbi Harry S. Dombek. There will be no shiva on Friday or Saturday. Anyone needing directions may call his brother, Joseph Dombek, Kingston.
Arrangements were by the Clark Funeral Home, Philadelphia.
Chere, Betty
July 16, 2000
Betty E. Chere, 77, of Main Street, Locke, N.Y., died Sunday at Cortland Memorial Nursing Facility.
Born in Muhlenburg, she retired as a finisher with Smith Corona Corp. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church of Locke and Moravia, N.Y.
Surviving are her husband, Albert; daughters, Carol Heim, Dresserville, N.Y.; Marie Berish, Elbridge, N.Y.; sisters, Marjorie Kaylor, Bloomingdale; Helen Polinchak, Kingston; Leona Edwards, Tully, N.Y.; brother, Arthur Askew, Muhlenburg; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday in Moravia. Interment was in Bird Cemetery, Locke. Arrangements were by the Wade Funeral Home, Moravia.
Spunar, Nancy
July 20, 2000
Nancy A. Spunar, 71, of Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday at the home of her daughter in Wilkes-Barre.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 420 Wyoming Ave., Kingston.
Olmstead, David
July 19, 2000
David R. "Wag" Olmstead, 51, of Stevensville, died Wednesday at his home.
Born Oct. 31, 1948, in Stevensville, he was a son of the late David F. and Annabelle (Durland) Olmstead. He was a 1966 graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Eugene.
Surviving are his brother, Larry D., Tunkhannock; half-brothers, Stanley and Emerson Sands, both of Tunkhannock; Robert Sands, Dallas; Wayne Sands, Meshoppen; and James Sands, Laceyville; half-sisters, Donna Etheridge, Russellville, Ky.; and Shirley Proof, Cucumonga, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be private. There will be no calling hours.
Arrangements are by the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main Street, Laceyville.
Gutkoski, Jean
July 20, 2000
Jean P. (Szmurkowski) Gutkoski, 83, of RR 2, Meshoppen, died Thursday at Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, after a sudden illness.
Born April 21, 1917, in Scranton, she was a daughter of the late John and Sophia (Chomentowski) Szmurkowski.
She was a member of St. Joachim's Roman Catholic Church, Meshoppen, and its Altar and Rosary Society, and the South Auburn Grange No. 1177.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip J. Sr.; sisters, Genevieve Burke and Stephanie Szmurkowski; brothers, Joseph Smurkoski and Stanley Szmurkowski; and one grandson.
Surviving are her sons, Philip J. Jr., Catawba Island, Ohio; Ronald J., Sheffield Village, Ohio; and Richard J., Parma Heights, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Adeline Marotta, Meshoppen; Stella Love, Laceyville; Lillian Degnan, Greece, N.Y.; and Edna Murphy, Lady Lake, Fla.; and brother, Edward Smurkowski, Meshoppen.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday from St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Marblehead, Ohio.
Interment will be in the Catawba Island Township Cemetery.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main Street, Meshoppen. The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. by the Rev. Joseph J. Manarchuck.
