Obituaries by LocationEyre, Mary
Nov. 23, 2000
Mary Eyre, of Stoddartsville, died Thursday at Hospice Care, Chandler Hall, Newtown.
Born Jan. 4, 1918, she was a daughter of the late Adolph and Mary Glahn. She was a graduate of Forty Fort High School and School of Nursing of Philadelphia General Hospital. She was a surgical nurse in hospitals in the Doylestown area and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and was a nurse at George School, Newtown.
She was preceded in death
by her husband of 44 years, William B.; brothers, George, Frederic, Howard and LeRoy; and sister Charlotte Nerhood.
Surviving are her sons, William B., Richboro; and Howard, Hatfield; daughters, S. Jane Driscoll, Pittsburgh; Kathy Pearcey, Merion; Betsy Mitchell, South Port, N.C.; and Deborah Busch, Colmar; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and brother, A. Sheldon, Forty Fort.
A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Buckingham Friends Meeting, Route 202, Lahaska. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care, Chandler Hall, 99 Barclay St., Newtown, 18940. Arrangements are by the Leaver-Cable Funeral Home, Buckingham.
Fiascki, Robert
Nov. 27, 2000
Robert J. Fiascki, 70, of Tiffany Court, Kingston, died Monday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late Dominic and Finella (Iannuzzi) Fiascki. He attended GAR High School. He was a disabled U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and attained the rank of sergeant first class. After being wounded in the line of duty, he was awarded the Purple Heart, among other medals. He was active in veterans organizations, including Sons of Italy, Italian-American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 283, Amvets Post 59, Hanover Township and was deputy state vice commander of the American Legion 12th District in 1993 and involved in the renaming of the North Street Bridge to Veterans' Memorial Bridge. He was a member of the Holy Rosary Church, Park Avenue.
He was preceded in death by his brother, John.
Surviving are his children, Carolyn, McSherrystown; Barbara, Teaneck, N.J.; stepdaughter, Rosemarie Sabatini-Petrick, Wilmington, Del.; and brother, Peter, Wyoming.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Thursday from the Recupero Funeral Home, 141 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today. The Italian-American Veterans will hold a service at 7:15 p.m. this evening at the funeral home, followed by a service by the Order Sons of Italy Lodge 1397. Military funeral services will be conducted at the Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, Wilkes-Barre.
Grigalunas, Helen
Nov. 26, 2000
Helen Grigalunas, 84, of Drummond Street, Pittston, died Sunday at Highland Manor Nursing Center, Exeter.Born Dec. 26, 1915, in Pittston, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Mary (Mazaitis) Novak. She attended Pittston schools. She worked in the garment industry. She was a member of St. Casimir's Church, Pittston, the church choir and International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
Jeffrey, Barbara
Nov. 27, 2000
Barbara (Pechulis) Jeffrey, 55, of Franklin Street, Plymouth, died Monday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born June 2, 1945, in Plymouth, she was the daughter of Elizabeth (Ambrose) Pechulis, Plymouth, and the late John Pechulis. She was a graduate of Plymouth High School. She was a baker in the cafeteria of Wyoming Valley West School District. She was a member of Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church, Plymouth.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her sons, John Paul and Arthur Lawrence, both of Plymouth; two grandchildren; brother, Joseph Pechulis, Forty Fort; one nephew; and fiance, Joseph Kempinski, Nanticoke.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday from S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Polish National Catholic Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, West Nanticoke. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Memorial donations may be made to the Special Olympics, 124 Washington Square, 2570 Blvd. of the Generals, Norristown, 19403.
Kleyps, Lottie
Nov. 27, 2000
Lottie E. Kleyps, formerly of Newport Township, died Monday at the Barclay-Friends Nursing Home, West Chester.
Born April 8, 1906, in Newport Township, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Stec) Wintergrass (Wengrzen). She was a member of St. Mary's Church, Nanticoke, and St. Agnes Church, West Chester.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; and son, Edward.
Surviving are her son, Dr. Richard Kent, Berwyn; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday from the Earl W. Lohman Funeral Home, 14 W. Green St., Nanticoke, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Barclay-Friends, 700 N. Franklin St., West Chester, 19380.
Kreseski, Caroline
Nov. 27, 2000
Caroline Kreseski, 94, of Duryea, died Monday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.Born in Duryea, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Shermack) Steer. She attended Duryea schools. She owned and operated Barber's Cafe, Pittston. She was a member of St. Casimir's Church, Pittston.
Freeman Lee, Kenneth
Nov. 23, 2000
Kenneth Freeman Lee, 67, of Shimpstown Road, Mercersburg, died Thursday at Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, Md.Born Nov. 6, 1933, in Scranton, he was a stepson of Anna Naomi (Berg) Lee, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and son of the late Kenneth C. and Dorothy (Freeman) Lee. He was a 1951 graduate of Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, 1955 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y., and 1960 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia. He was admitted to the bar in 1961. He practiced law with Black & Davison, Chambersburg, became a partner in the former Lee and Kaye Law Firm, and was twice a sole practitioner. He practiced in Fulton and Franklin counties. He was a solicitor for many municipalities and general council for Beistle Co., Shippensburg. He was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserves and was honorably discharged from the reserves with the rank of major. He was a member of the Democratic Party
Loughnane, Edna
Nov. 26, 2000
Edna Mae (Swinehart) Loughnane, 90, of Nordmont, died Sunday at the Valley View Nursing Home, Warrensville.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore.
Motichko, Francis
Nov. 27, 2000
Francis Motichko, formerly of West Wyoming, died Monday at the East Mountain Manor, Plains Township.Funeral arrangements are pending from the Metcalfe & Shaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming.
Olexy, Attorney Joseph P. Esquire
Nov. 26, 2000
Attorney Joseph P. Olexy, 92, a native son of Plymouth and recently a resident of Wesley Village, Laflin, died Sunday at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born July 4, 1908, in Plymouth, he was the son of Alexander and Susanna Olexy, of Lyndwood. Attorney Olexy was graduated with honors from Plymouth High School in 1926, where he distinguished himself both in the classroom and on the athletic fields. In addition to graduating first in his class, he was chosen as senior class president, was president of the Ciceronian Literary Society and won the school oratorical contest in his senior ~year. In athletics, he was a member of the school football and baseball teams for three years. It was at football that Attorney Olexy particularly excelled, playing three different line positions during his three varsity years for the Shawnee Indians and serving as captain during his senior year. He was also chosen as a member of the Wyoming Valley All-Scholastic Team at the tackle position in 1926.
Attorney Olexy was awarded an academic scholarship to Harvard University following his high school career, but instead chose to attend the University of Pennsylvania, the alma mater of his beloved mentor and football coach at ~Plymouth, Dr. George R. Drake. He enrolled at Penn as a freshmen in the fall of 1926 with very little money and tried out for the Penn football team, which, in those days, was one of the Eastern football powerhouses, regularly drawing 70,000 to 80,000 fans to Franklin Field on a fall afternoon. Making the team was imperative to Olexy. Team membership guaranteed his daily meals at the Penn training table during the season and then a job at the training house during the off-season. After his freshman year, Attorney Olexy became one of the outstanding players of Penn football by starting at a different line position in each of his three varsity years, 1927-29. He was featured in a "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" cartoon as the "iron man" of Penn football in 1929. During his summer vacations, he worked in the mines with his father at the Truesdale Colliery in Hanover Township. He was graduated from the U. of P. in 1930 with an A.B., English, and from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1933 (LL.B.). While completing undergraduate work, Attorney Olexy was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and also coached the freshman football team while still in law school. He was also chosen to be a member of the Friars' Honorary Society.
Following law school, Attorney Olexy was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Luzerne County, the appellate courts of Pennsylvania and the Federal court system. In addition to holding down a private practice in Plymouth, Attorney Olexy was appointed to the post of Worker's Compensation Referee in 1937 by Gov. Arthur H. James. He served in this post until 1943, serving two years in the U.S. Navy and then resuming this position until 1956. When the referee's job became a civil service post in the 1970s, Attorney Olexy, approaching age 70, took the civil service exam and received the highest score in Lackawanna County for the referee's position in Scranton, a post which he filled for 10 years until his retirement in 1988.
During World War II, Attorney Olexy served in the United States Navy aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Theater from 1943 until his honorable discharge in December, 1945. As a full lieutenant in charge of radar operations on the USS Gregory, he participated in the battles for the islands of Eniwetok, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It was at Okinawa that the Gregory was severely damaged by a Japanese kamikaze, but was able to make it back to San Diego at war's end.
Attorney Olexy was a member of Luzerne County Bar Association, the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, a member and past president of the Plymouth Kiwanis Club, the Wyoming Valley Country Club and active in many community activities. He also served as solicitor to the Plymouth National Bank and the Plymouth Borough Council. Attorney Olexy was a member of the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Plymouth.
Attorney Olexy was also an avid golfer for many years and an accomplished violinist. As a youngster, he was taught the violin by his father, a coal miner, who also played at many local celebrations in the Lyndwood area. He was, for a time, a member of the Scranton Symphony in the late 1940s and enjoyed playing violin and viola in string quartets. In later years, he taught himself the cello well enough to fill in for an absent cello player in his string quartet.
He was preceded in death in May of this year, by his wife of 63 years, Mary (Rareshide) Olexy; his grandson, Josh Olexy, 1996; and his brother, Henry, 1994.
Surviving are his two sons, Joseph P. Olexy Jr., and his wife, Jean, of King of Prussia; Jon E. Olexy, and his wife, Dorian, of Lutherville, Md.; grandchildren, Lysbeth Kilcullen, Joseph P. Olexy III, Douglas Olexy, Bryn Olexy, Amy Olexy, Justin Olexy; two great-grandchildren, Hannah Olexy and Alexander Kilcullen; and sister, Emily Orbach.
The funeral will be held Thursday, Nov. 30, at 9:30 a.m. from the Williams Funeral Home, 114 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul, Church Street, Plymouth. Interment will be at St. Mary's Nativity Cemetery, Plymouth Township. Friends may pay respects, Wednesday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Williams Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Plymouth Public Library, 107 W. Main St., Plymouth, 18651; or to the Plymouth Historical Society, Plymouth, Pa.
Pazdziorko, Ann
Nov. 26, 2000
Ann Pazdziorko, 86, of Schooley Avenue, Exeter, died Sunday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Exeter, she was a daughter of the late Simon and Johanna (Danelkis) Makstutis. She attended St. Cecilia's School, Exeter. She worked for the Consolidated Cigar Co., West Pittston. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Exeter, and its Altar & Rosary Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; brothers, Joseph, John and Anthony Makstutis; and sisters, Adele Zickus and Bernice Petrosky.
Surviving are her daughters, Carol Cotter, Swoyersville; and Barbara Pazdziorko, Exeter; four grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter; and sister, Mary Vasil, West Pittston.~
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday from the Frank A. Gubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church. Interment will be in St. Casimir's Cemetery, Pittston. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today.
Perfetto Sr., George
Nov. 26, 2000
GGeorge L. Perfetto Sr., of Church Street, Larksville, died Sunday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Pittston, he was a son of the late Benjamin and Pauline (Pace) Perfetto. He worked for the Veterans Administration Regional Offices in Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the American Legion Post 655 ~and St. John The Baptist Church, both of Larksville, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 342.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Michael, John and Martin; and sister, Mary.
Surviving are his wife, the former Helen Sabola; sons, George, Jr., Hunlock Creek; and Dennis, Sr., Moosic; three grandchildren; brothers, Anthony, New Jersey; and Arthur, Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Hilda Hannon, Moosic; and Betty Banellis, Pittston.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Baptist Church, Larksville. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Dallas.
Post, Helen
Nov. 26, 2000
Helen B. Post, of North Atherton Street, Kingston, died Sunday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born June 4, 1918, in Plymouth Township, she was a daughter of the late Thomas and Elizabeth (Thompson) Bradley. She was a clerk at Rea & Derrick Drugstore, Plymouth, and co-owned Post Cleaners, Plymouth, with her husband of 62 years, Marshal.
She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas; sisters, Mary Krisilewicz and Estelle Disque; and brothers, William, John and Thomas Bradley.
Surviving, in addition to her husband, are her daughter, Diane Medura, Shavertown section of Kingston Township; son, Richard, Pylesville, Md.; five grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Frederick & Snowdon Funeral Home, 617 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Jerry M. Doublisky officiating. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of service Friday. Private burial will be by the family in Edge Hill Cemetery, West Nanticoke. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Rindgen, Josephine
Nov. 26, 2000
Josephine E. (Grubuski) Rindgen, 92, a resident at Highland Manor Nursing Home, Exeter, for the past four years, formerly of Bear Creek Township, died Sunday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Wilkes-Barre Township, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Catherine (Wendolowski) Grubuski. She was a member of Holy Na~me/St. Mary's Parish Community, Swoyersville, and St. Christopher's Church, Bear Creek Township.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo M.; son, Raymond; brothers, John and Anthony Grubuski; and sisters, Helen Grubuski and Mazy Richards.
Surviving are her sons, Leo M., Towanda, N.Y.; Joseph F., Forty Fort; and Francis J., Iselin, N.J.; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and sister, Stella Elmendorf, Larksville.
The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at noon at Holy Name/St. Mary's Church. The Rev. Louis Grippe will officiate. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday.
Sonday, Walter
Nov. 27, 2000
Walter Z. Sonday, of Schooley Avenue, Exeter, died Monday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Plains Township.
Born in Wyoming, he was a son of the late Frank and Mary (Drapola) Sonday. He was a milkman for Purvin Dairy. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater. He was a member of St. Michael's Byzantine Church, Pittston, and its Altar and Rosary Society.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Anna Smutko; brothers, Joseph and John; and sisters, Rose Stukey, Blanche Mickus and Theresa Sonday.
Surviving are her daughters, Mary Ann Anthon, Woodbridge, Va.; and Joan Haug, Morrisville; sons, Paul, Avoca; David, Cary, N.C.; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Frank, Swoyersville; and Adam, Levittown; and sister, Nell Molesky, West Wyoming.
Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday from the Metcalfe & Shaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, with Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Byzantine Church. Interment will be in St. Cecilia's Cemetery, Exeter. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Parastas services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael's Byzantine Church, Pittston.
Stuchkus, Anna
Nov. 26, 2000
Anna Stuchkus, of Evans Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, died Sunday at her residence.
Born July 8, 1915, in Wilkes-Barre Township, she was a daughter of the late John and Martha (Wasilefski) Stuchkus. She attended a Wilkes-Barre Township school. She worked for the Wilkes-Barre Apparel Dress Co. and various garment industries throughout the Wyoming Valley. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church, Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Alphonsus and William.
Surviving are her sisters, Tillie Yanushefski, with whom she resided; and Eleanor Cembrock, Wilkes-Barre; brother, Albert, Wilkes-Barre; nieces and nephews.
A private funeral will be held Wednesday at the convenience of the family from the Bednarski Funeral Home, 27 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery, Bear Creek Township. There are no calling hours.
