Obituaries by LocationSkorodensky, Jean
Dec. 15, 2000
Jean Skorodensky, of Plains Township, died Friday.
Born July 28, 1929, in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late Harvey and Ann Miller. She worked for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and Leslie Fay Dress.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Thomas; and brothers, Robert and Daniel Miller.
Surviving is her son, Thomas, Jr., Plains Township.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Michael J. Mikelski Funeral Home, 293 S. River St., Plains Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at SS. Peter & Paul Church, Plains Township. Interment will be in SS. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Cemetery, Plains Township. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Skursky Sr., Raymond
Dec. 17, 2000
Raymond Skursky Sr., of the Harding section of Exeter Township, died Sunday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in the Port Griffith section of Jenkins Township, he was a son of the late Edward and Anna (Pillets) Skursky.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Edward Jr., Joseph, John and Alex Skursky.
Surviving are his wife, the former Betty Stead; sons, Raymond Jr. and Scott; sisters, Stella and Eva Skursky and Sophie Kalinski; and brothers, Leonard, Robert and Gene.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. Interment in Mountain View Burial Park, Harding. Arrangements are by Howell-Lussi Funeral Home, 509 Wyoming Ave., West Pittston.
Stavish, Theresa
Dec. 15, 2000
Theresa P. Stavish, of Center Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, died Friday at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Bednarski Funeral Home, 27 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre.
Steckroat, Margaret
Dec. 14, 2000
Margaret Loretta Steckroat, of Regina Street, Hanover Township, died Thursday at the home of her daughter.
Born Jan. 28, 1912, in White Haven, England, she was a daughter of the late James and Margaret (Long) McGee. She attended Hanover Area schools. She was a housekeeper at First Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barre. She was a member of St. Aloysius Church, Hanover Township, and its Altar and Rosary Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred C.; brothers, David, Thomas and James; and sisters, Elizabeth Rother and Helen Schultz.
Surviving are her sons, Fred J., Levittown; and William, Hanover Township; daughter, Shirley Schultz, Kingston; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Daubert, Fairless Hills; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday from the Mamary-Durkin Funeral Home Inc., 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Straka, Richie
Dec. 14, 2000
Richie J. Straka, of Spruce Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, died Thursday at his home.
Born Jan. 25, 1962, in Passaic, N.J., he was a son of Richard and Rita (Flaherty) Straka, Spruce Street, Wilkes-Barre Township. He was a graduate of Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre. He was a member of St. Joseph's Friary, Wilkes-Barre Township.
Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his brother, Ronald, Wilkes-Barre Township; sister, Joanne Casterline, Wilkes-Barre Township; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Monday from the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 N. Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Friary. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Cole Szczecinski, Infant
Dec. 18, 2000
Infant Cole Christopher Szczecinski, forever an angel, son of Curtis and Kristina (Bartram) Szczecinski, of Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown section of Kingston Township, died Monday at birth at Nesbitt Hospital, Kingston.
Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his brother, Ethan, at home; paternal grandparents, Clem and Maryann Latsko Szczecinski, Wilkes-Barre; maternal grandmother, Patricia McFarland Bartram, Nicholson; paternal great-grandmother, Irene Latsko, Wilkes-Barre; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.
Wienckowski, Anthony
Dec. 18, 2000
Anthony Wienckowski, 58, of West Main Street, Plymouth, formerly of Hanover Township, died Monday at home.
Born Oct. 19, 1942, in Ashley, he was a son of the late Walter and Mary (Graziul) Wienckowski. He was a graduate of Ashley High School. He worked in the security department at Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, and at Foster-Wheeler Corp., Mountaintop. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of the St. Mary's-St. Stephen's Church Community, Plymouth.
Surviving are his wife of 33 years, the former Valerie Volovicz; brother, Walter, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; sister, Lorraine Thompson, Wilkes-Barre; one aunt, nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Thursday 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 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. A Prayer Service will be held Wednesday at the funeral home.
J. Wiernusz Sr., Chester
Dec. 16, 2000
Chester James Wiernusz Sr., of Anderson Road, Tunkhannock, passed away on Saturday in the Emergency Room at Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock.
He was born in Tunkhannock on June 6, 1936, son of the late Michael and Elizabeth (Tyrarua) Wiernusz. He was a graduate of Tunkhannock High School class of 1955 and was employed by Tunkhannock Area School District in the Maintenance Department. He was a member of the Church of Nativity BVM in Tunkhannock. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Leonard Wiernusz, Edmund Wiernusz, Frank Scranta and Joseph Putek; and a sister, Sophie Podlaski.
Surviving are his wife of 37 years, Irene (Kobylski) Wiernusz; sons and daughters-in-laws, Chester J., Jr. and Christine Wiernusz, of Siloam Springs, Ark.; Gerald and Kim Wiernusz, of Kingston; brothers, Michael Wiernusz, Andrew Scranta, Theodore Scranta; all of Tunkhannock; sisters, Mary Chellis, Cecelia Kobylski and Ann Stroka, all of Tunkhannock; grandchildren, Megan and Jerry J. Wiernusz, of Kingston.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home Inc., 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, with Mass of Christian Burial at Church of Nativity BVM at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Yuhas, Joseph
Dec. 14, 2000
Joseph A. Yuhas, 70, of Bunker Hill Road, Kingston Township, died Thursday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Plains Township.
Born in Swoyersville, he was a son of Mary (Lostoski) Yuhas, Swoyersville, and the late Joseph Yuhas. He attended Swoyersville High School. He worked for Techneglas Inc., Pittston. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of St. Therese's Church, Shavertown section of Kingston Township, and the American Legion Post 395, Kingston.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Janet Drumetski.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 47 years, Leona (Novicki) Yuhas; daughter, Diane Smith, Sweet Valley section of Ross Township; son, Joseph, Dallas; four grandchildren; brothers, Richard and Floyd, both of Swoyersville; Frank, Plymouth; and Clement, Duryea.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Therese's Church. The Rev. Peter Crynes will officiate. Interment will be private at Indiantown Gap Cemetery, Annville. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tree of Life Fund, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1111 E. End Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
Bornais, Judith Ann
December 16, 2000
Judith Ann (Clark) Bornais, 57, of Warwick Township, Elverson, died Saturday at Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville, Chester County.
Born in Kingston, she was the daughter of Sarah A. (Wagner) Clark, of Dallas, and the late William J. Clark.
She was a graduate of Bloomsburg State College and received a master's degree from Temple University. She worked as a teacher for 27 years. She was a member of Cedarville United Methodist Church.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her husband, Ronald F. Bornais, at home; sons, Clark A., Johnstown; and Matthew R., at home; and sister, Wilma J. Smith, Pittsburgh.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday from Cedarville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. J. Val Hastings officiating. Burial will be private in Bloomingdale Cemetery, Bloomingdale section of Ross Township. Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Cedarville United Methodist Church, 1092 Laurelwood Road, Pottstown, 19465. Catagnus Funeral Home, 711 N. Franklin St., Pottstown, is in charge of arrangements.
Brown, Gertrude
December 16, 2000
Gertrude Brown, 97, formerly of Kidder Street, East End section of Wilkes-Barre, died Saturday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. She had resided at Riverview Ridge, Wilkes-Barre, for the past six years.
Born Dec. 22, 1902, in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Anna Powers Brown. A graduate of St. Nicholas High School, Wilkes-Barre, she was employed at First Eastern Bank, Wilkes-Barre, for many years. She was a member of Holy Saviour Church, Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Monsignor Peter Brown, Lawrence, Edward, Leo and Aloysius Brown; and sister, Nora E. Brown.
Surviving are nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday from E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Saviour Church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Mausoleum, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Saviour Memorial Fund, 54 Hillard St., Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
Gavrish, Anna
December 17, 2000
Anna T. Gavrish, 89, of Arch Street in the Glen Lyon section of Newport Township, died Sunday at Mercy Health Care Center, Newport Township.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Stanley S. Stegura Funeral Home, Inc., 614 S. Hanover St., Nanticoke.
Griffiths, Harriet
December 17, 2000
Harriet Ponting Griffiths, 78, of the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre, died Sunday at Hospice Care of the VNA Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre.
Born Sept. 21, 1922, in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late Reese and Hannah Nagle Ponting.
She was a 1941 graduate of GAR High School and won the title of Mrs. Wyoming Valley in 1953. She was a professional seamstress in the Valley.
She was a member of the First Welsh Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barre.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Griffiths, a former Wilkes-Barre police officer; and sister, Margaret Smith.
Surviving are her children, Dr. Gilbert R. Griffiths, Dallas; Ruth Ann Pintchuck, Plymouth; and Thomas A. Griffiths, Eden Prairie, Minn.; four grandchildren; sister, Ruth Snyder, Temple Terrace, Fla.; twin brother, Harry Ponting, Greenbackville, Va.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday from the Straub Kane Funeral Home, 55 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. George Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Trucksville, Kingston Township. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial donations may be made to the First Welsh Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, corner of South Meade and Northampton streets, Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
Heller, Leslie
December 15, 2000
Leslie Helen Heller, 35, of New Alexander Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Friday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born July 13, 1965, in Elmhurst, N.Y., she was the daughter of Margaret Ann Humphries Heller, at home, and the late Robert C. Heller. She was a 1982 graduate of Norman Thomas High School in New York City.
She attended King's College in Brooklyn, N.Y., and completed courses at Star Technical Institute. She was employed by Legal Aide in Scranton.
She was a member of St. Clement-St. Peter Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, is her brother, Robert C., Jr., of Wilkes-Barre.
Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Williams Funeral Home, 114 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Solemn Eucharist at 10 a.m. at St. Clement-St. Peter Episcopal Church. The Rev. Robert W. Mikol will officiate. Interment will be in Shawnee Cemetery, Plymouth. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Daniel V. FitzSimmons will conduct vigil services Tuesday evening. Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of St. Clement-St. Peter Episcopal Church, 165 Hanover St., Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
Keil, Charles
December 16, 2000
Charles R. Keil, 77, of Jones Street, Wilkes-Barre, died Saturday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born May 13, 1923, in the Hudson section of Plains Township, he was a son of the late George and Catherine Bowman Keil. He was a graduate of Plains Township High School.
Before retiring, he was employed in the maintenance department at St. Nicholas School. He was previously employed by the L&L Supply Co., Wilkes-Barre, for many years. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Mary Santey; and sister, Ruth Jenkins.
Surviving are his son, Ronald, with whom he resided; daughters, Linda Davis, Nanticoke; and Karen Fetterolf, Wilkes-Barre; brothers, George and Jack, both of Hudson; Robert, Bear Creek; and Albert, Dallas; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the Leo P. Lehman Funeral Home, 689 Hazle Ave., Wilkes-Barre. The Rev. Peter D. Kuritz will officiate. Interment will be in Memorial Shrine Park, Carverton, Kingston Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today. Memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 190 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
Koprowski, Joseph
December 17, 2000
Joseph S. Koprowski, 82, formerly of Jersey Road, Plymouth Township, died Sunday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre.
Born July 21, 1918, in Plymouth Township, he was a son of the late Stanley Koprowski and the late Mary Pokego Koprowski Siminowicz. He was a 1940 graduate of Harter High School and a lifelong resident of Plymouth Township.
He was last employed as a laborer by the Sordoni Construction Co. He was previously employed as a mechanic by the Atwater Throwing Co. in Plymouth.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He was a member of the St. Mary's-St. Stephen's Church Community of Plymouth and the American Legion Shawnee Post 1425, Plymouth.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Anthony Simonowicz, John Siminowicz and Walter Koprowski.
Surviving are his sister-in-law, Veronica "Vern" Simonowicz, with whom he resided; brother, Benjamin Kaprowski, Plymouth; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday from the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in St. Mary's Nativity Church. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. There will be a prayer service at the funeral home.
