Obituaries by LocationDePolo, Alfred
July 20, 2000
Alfred DePolo, 88, formerly of the Parsons section of Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday at Highland Manor, Exeter.
Born Dec. 12, 1911, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Anthony and Teresa Mosses DePolo. He was educated in the Wilkes-Barre schools and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He was employed in the construction trades, working out of Union Local 215. He was a member of St. Dominic's Church, Wilkes-Barre.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, the former Clorinda Pisaneschi; sisters, Anna Gross, Rose Marchese and Mary Vallario; brothers, Charles, Joseph, Henry and Dominic DePolo.
Surviving are sons, Anthony DePolo, Shavertown; James DePolo, Jackson, Wyom.; sister, Laura Perez, Hillside, N.J.; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday from E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at noon in St. Dominic's Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to King's College Development Office.
Cunningham, Lela
July 19, 2000
Lela H. Cunningham, 76, of Laceyville, died Wednesday at the Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock.
Born Sept. 9, 1923, in Noxen, she was the daughter of the late Winfred and Hazel Reed. She worked as a seamstress at the A.J. Dress Factory, Laceyville, for many years before retiring. She attended the Braintrim Baptist Church, Laceyville, and was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Local 295, Scranton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Cunningham; and brother, Jack Loveland.
Surviving are her son, Raymond Sickler, Meshoppen; daughters, Hazel St. Clair, Tunkhannock; Alberta Rogo, with whom she resided in Laceyville; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral and committal services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main Street, Laceyville, with the Rev. Richard Camp, of the Braintrim Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Lacey Street Cemetery, Laceyville. Friends may call one hour before the time of services Saturday.
Kondrak, Susanna
July 20, 2000
Susanna "Toots" (Gobush) Kondrak, formerly of Summit Street, Edwardsville, died Thursday at Riverstreet Manor, Wilkes-Barre.
Born June 4, 1922, in Auburn, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late John and Anna Margaret (Welsko) Gobush.
She attended Edwardsville High School.
She worked for Wilkes College and for Steve the Furrier.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael "Pepper" Kondrak; brothers, Joseph and John Gobush Jr.; sisters, Anna "Anka" Gobush, Marie Margavitch and Elizabeth "Betts" Goobic.
Surviving are her sister, Helen Gobush Luff, Edwardsville; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday from the John V. Morris Funeral Home, 625 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Sloivesko of St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church, Edwardsville, officiating.
Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Pringle.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday.
Grasso, Vincent
July 17, 2000
Vincent F. Grasso, 79, of Bethlehem, died Monday at his home.
Born Feb. 15, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late Frank and Maria (Giomfrido) Grasso. He was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary and Lehigh University. He resided in Mountaintop for 45 years before moving to Naples, Fla., where he resided for 14 years.
He was an owner and operator of the United Pants Co., a family business in the Wyoming Valley, for many years before retiring. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as an officer. He received the Purple Heart and Silver Star.
He was a member of Holy Name/St. Mary's Catholic Church, Swoyersville, the Lions Club and was an active community leader for more than 35 years. He was also active in the Home Owners Association of Vista Palms, Naples, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Betty J. (Wolfersberger) Grasso.
Surviving are his daughters, Katie Nepereny, Bethlehem; Mary Knepper, Weatherly; Dotty Sescilla, Walnutport; Angel Mauro, Kempton; brother, Angelo Grasso, Forty Fort; sisters, Angelina Siracuse, Forty Fort; Carmela Natale, New Jersey; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be at noon Saturday, Aug. 19, at Holy Name/St. Mary's Catholic Church, Shoemaker Street, Swoyersville. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 90127, Allentown, 18109.
Borkowski, Bridget
July 19, 2000
Bridget Borkowski, of Dupont, died Wednesday at the East Mountain Manor, Plains Township.
Born in Duryea, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Violet Borkowski. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, Dupont.
She was preceded in death by brothers, Barney, Frank, Stanley and Edward; sisters, Sophie and Marie.
Surviving are her sisters, Helen Bauer, Newton, N.J.; Jean Pronko, Harrisburg; and Nora Bogutsky, Scranton; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from the Stephen M. Lokuta Funeral Home, 200 Wyoming Ave., Dupont, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of services Saturday.
Stewart, Hugh
July 18, 2000
Hugh H. "Harry" Stewart, 79, of Spring Hill, Fla., died Tuesday in Spring Hill Hospital.
Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Hugh and Susan Cambell Stewart. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Agnes Ramella.
Surviving are sons, Jeffery, Bear Creek; Robert, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Hugh IV, Ventnor, N.J.; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held from the passed away Friday morning as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he celebrated his 16th birthday on July 20. He was reared in Exeter and was a lifelong resident of Exeter. He was the beloved son of David and Noreen Tobin De Mark. He was going to enter his sophomore year at Wyoming Area High School. He was active in football and wrestling. Matthew loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. He was a positive ray of hope and sunshine for friends and family.
He left behind a sister, Mary, brother, David Jr., sister, Meredith, brother, Joseph, and sister, Christina, all at home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ella Tobin, Avoca, and the late John Tobin; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Seman, of Wyoming, and the late Carmen De Mark; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and numerous friends. His presence will live in their hearts forever.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at a time to be announced. Final resting place is Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. Friends may call from 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 p.m. Monday from the Adonizio Funeral Home, Inc., 251 William St., Pittston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family for areas of Matthew's interest.
Connors, Leo
July 21, 2000
Leo J. Connors, 78, of Ashley, died Friday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospice Unit, Plains Township.
Born Oct. 4, 1921, in Ashley, he was a son of the late Lewis and Clara (Mandal) Connors. He was a 1939 graduate of St. Leo High School and a retired finishing technician for Lions Brewery. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, serving as a tail gunner on a B-17, was shot down over Stuttgart, Germany, returning from a bombing mission over Augsburg, Germany. He was a POW until liberated by the Russian allies. He received the Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, four Over Seas Service Bars and the Purple Heart for being wounded in action. He was a member of American Legion Post 673, Ashley.
Surviving are his wife, the former Amelia McEneny; son, Leo J., Jr., Newport Township; two grandchildren; sisters, Helen Dzanko, Wilkes-Barre; and Elizabeth Watkin, Pittston; brother, John, Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank; and sisters, Anna Jetchick, Margaret Lipousky and Mary Ungermam.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family Arrangements are by the James M. Desiderio Funeral Home, Inc., 2 Academy Road, Marion Terrace, Hanover Township. Memorial donations may be made to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospice Unit, Plains Township; or to the Hanover Township Ambulance.
Derrick, Andrew
July 2, 2000
Rev. Andrew D. Derrick, 87, of Crescent City, Fla., formerly of the Fernbrook section of Dallas Township, died July 2 in Palatka, Fla.
He was born in Aldenville. He was the pastor of the former Glenview P.M. Church, Fernbrook, and was a Christian missionary alliance minister in De Land, Fla. He was a World War II veteran, serving on the USS Chopper.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris L.
Surviving are his second wife, Suzie C.; sons, Andrew, Jr., Hallstead; and Carl, Great Bend; daughters, Audrey McHugh, Jacksonville, Fla.; and Barbara Rustic, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Interment was in Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Fla. Arrangements were by the Watts Funeral Home and Crematory, Crescent City.
Kehler Sr., Robert
July 20, 2000
Robert E. Kehler Sr., 78, of Harveys Lake, died Thursday at the Wilkes- Barre General Hospital.
Born Dec. 1, 1921, at Harveys Lake, he was the son of the late Frederick and Blanche (Gosart) Kehler. He worked for Sullivan Trail Manufacturing, Exeter, and was a member of the United Mine Worker's Union.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, the former Gertrude Norton; sons, Robert, E., Jr., Larksville; Daniel, DeBary, Fla.; Thomas, Harveys Lake; and Timothy, Sweet Valley section of Ross Township; daughters, Trudi Steele, Sweet Valley; and Laurel Siglin, Exeter; 18 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of Routes 29 & 118, Pikes Creek, with the Rev. Mary Jean Simonin officiating. Interment will be in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Loyalville. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Memorial donations may be made to the Loyalville United Methodist Church.
Kopec, Helen
July 21, 2000
Helen O. Kopec, 90, of North Sherman Street, Wilkes-Barre, formerly of Irvington, N.J., died Friday at Little Flower Manor, Wilkes-Barre.
Born Sept. 21, 1909, in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Check) Koval. She attended Wilkes-Barre schools and was a member of Sacred Heart-St. John's Parish Community, Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph G.; sisters, Margaret Gavel and Mary Kwak; and brother, John Koval.
Surviving are her sister, Sophie Rak, Harrison, N.J.; brother, Andrew Koval, Wilkes-Barre; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Dallas. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Kuhn, Harry
July 21, 2000
Harry M. Kuhn, 39, of Harveys Lake, formerly of Pensacola, Fla., died Friday at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.
Born Nov. 6, 1960, in Portsmouth, Va., he was a son of Richard and Mildred (McMahon) Kuhn, of Harveys Lake. He attended Lake-Lehman High School and worked for the Pat Deats Masonry Co., Shavertown section of Kingston Township.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Timothy.
Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his son, Kyle, Sweet Valley section of Ross Township; brother, Richard, Princeton, N.J.; sister, Michelle Cross, Hunlock Creek; and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. N.W. McCall, Edgewater, Fla.; nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday from the Karl E. Blight Funeral Home, 392 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas. Interment will be in the Cedar Crest Cemetery, Trucksville section of Kingston Township. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Lorance, Phyllis
July 20, 2000
Phyllis L. Lorance, 55, of Anne Street, Mountaintop, Wright Township, died Thursday at Hospice Community Care Inpatient Unit at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born Jan. 24, 1945, in Muncie, Ind., she was a daughter of the late Charles and K. Elizabeth (Blankley) Budd. She was an office manager for C.W. Schultz and Son Plumbing, Wilkes-Barre.
Surviving are her daughter, Connie Wright, Sweet Valley section of Ross Township; son, Jonathan, Mountaintop; four grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Budd, Atlanta; brothers, Charles Budd, Columbus, Ind.; and David Budd, Carmel, Ind.
A Memorial Service will be Sunday evening at the McCune Funeral Home, 80 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountaintop, with the Rev. Harriet Santos officiating. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Mazur, Sophie
July 14, 2000
Sophie (Zbeik) Mazur, 84, formerly of Plymouth, died July 14 at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Warrensville Heights, Ohio.
Born Sept. 3, 1915, in Plymouth, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin Zbeik. She attended Plymouth schools and was a member of St. Mary's Nativity Church, Plymouth.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John "Chippy;" sister, Mary Kowatz; and brother, John.
Surviving are her daughter, Sophie Novak, Solon, Ohio; son, Joseph, Ohio; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Resurrection was held at the Chapel of Little Sisters of the Poor. Interment was in the All Saints Cemetery, Ohio. Arrangements were by the Ferfolia Funeral Home, Ohio.
Rucco, Sarah
July 9, 2000
Sarah M. Rucco, 23, of the Evergreen Special Children's Center, Dryden, N.Y., died July 9 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, N.Y.
Born Oct. 23, 1976, in Binghamton, she was a daughter of Phyllis (Hughes) Rucco, Kingston, and the late Nicholas J. Rucco. She attended Newark Valley schools and was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church, Newark, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Matthew; maternal grandparents, Thomas and Phyllis Hughes; and paternal grandfather, Nicholas Kelly Rucco.
Surviving are her brother, Christopher, Cato, N.Y.; sister, Kelly Ammerman, Owego, N.Y.; paternal grandmother, Angeline Rucco, Hughestown; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
The funeral was from the MacPherson Funeral Home, Newark Valley, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. John the Evangelist Church, with the Rev. William A. Moorby officiating. Interment was in Hope Cemetery, Newark Valley, N.Y. Memorial donations may be made to the Evergreen Special Children's Center, P.O. Box 824, Dryden, N.Y.
Spunar, Nancy
July 20, 2000
Nancy A. Spunar, 71, of Wilkes-Barre, died Thursday at the home of her daughter in Wilkes-Barre.
Born Oct. 14, 1928, in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late George J. and Mary (Gower) Kidney. She was a graduate of Coughlin High School and member of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, both of Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Karisa.
Surviving are her son, George, Exeter; daughters, Dawn Hutton, Plains Township; Denise Spunar and Cindy Muchler, both of Wilkes-Barre; four grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Kidney, Wilkes-Barre; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 420 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, with the Rev. Andrew Pillarella officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Stark, Darlene
July 21, 2000
Darlene S. "Medicine Owl" Stark, of RR 2 Mehoopany, died Friday at the Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock.
Born Sept. 14, 1952, in Meshoppen, she was a daughter of Kathleen (Foux) Smith, Mehoopany, and the late George F. Smith. She was a 1970 graduate of Tunkhannock High School and was a member of the Eastern Delaware Nations. Surviving are her husband of 29 years, Joseph; daughters, Kathleen A. Remington and Heather L. Stark, both of Mehoopany, two grandchildren; brother, David, Mehoopany; sisters, Linda Ball, of Laporte; Laurie Pedley and Georgette Smith, both of Mehoopany.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc., 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, conducted by the Eastern Delaware Nations and Rev. Norman Faux. Interment will be in Vaughan Cemetery, Mehoopany. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Umbra, Stella
July 21, 2000
Stella Umbra, of South Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Friday at East Mountain Manor, Wilkes-Barre.
Born April 20, 1920, in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late John and Teofila Gosciewski Kowalec. She was a 1938 graduate of the James M. Coughlin High School and resided in the Wilkes-Barre area her entire life.
She was a member of St. Mary's Church of the Maternity, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre; its Confraternity of Christian Mothers and Altar & Rosary Society; and the Wilkes-Barre Chapter of UNICO Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; and brother, Anthony Kowalec.
Surviving are her son, Joseph Umbra Jr., Wilkes-Barre; daughter, Catherine Campisano, Wyomissing; sister, Helen Kowalec, Wilkes-Barre; five grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday from the Bednarski Funeral Home, 27 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Church of the Maternity. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today.
