Obituaries by LocationLilli, Dario
December 16, 2000
Dario P. Lilli, 73, of Old Forge, died Saturday at Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton.
Born April 21, 1927, in Old Forge, he was a son of the late Nazzareno and Rose Notari Lilli. He was a 1944 graduate of Old Forge High School.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Before his retirement, he was employed as a quality assurance representative for the U.S. Department of Defense. He completed numerous government courses while employed with the department.
He was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, Old Forge; the Byzantine Deanery Choir; Old Forge Knights of Columbus Council 5940; and Clarks Summit Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7069; and a past member of the Old Forge Lions Club.
He was preceded in death
by his brother, Joseph.
Surviving are his wife, the former Margaret Mihal, with whom he celebrated a 52nd wedding anniversary Oct. 9; son, Daniel, Iowa City, Iowa; daughter, Karen Cuttica, Johnstown, N.Y.; four granddaughters; one grandson; brother, Dr. Elmo Lilli, East Stroudsburg; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Thursday from the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, 517 N. Main St., Old Forge. The Rev. Peter Donish and the Rev. Nicholas Kraynak will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. in St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, Church Street, Old Forge. Interment will be in the parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7069 of Clarks Summit will conduct a service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
McMahon, The Rev. Kieran
December 15, 2000
The Rev. Kieran F. McMahon, OFM, formerly of the Georgetown section of Wilkes-Barre Township, died Friday at the Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J.
A son of the late John and Margaret Callan McMahon, he attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and St. Mary's High School. He holds the distinction of being the only member of St. Joseph's parish to become a Franciscan.
He was ordained into the priesthood on June 14, 1947, at Mount St. Sepulchre, Washington, D.C. He celebrated his first Mass on June 22, 1947, at St. Joseph's Monastery and served in many assignments throughout the United States. On June 7, 1997, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination with a Eucharistic Liturgy at the Holy Name Friary, his residence after his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his brother, John; and sisters, Margaret, Catherine Mines and Alice DeNote.
Surviving are his brother, Peter, Georgetown; sister, Mary, Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Cortona Chapel of the Holy Name Friary, 2 Morris Road, Ringwood, N.J. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Butler, N.J. The wake service will be today at 4:15 p.m. in the Cortona Chapel.
Metroka, Joseph
December 16, 2000
Joseph Metroka, 77, of Plains Township, died Saturday at the Veterans Nursing Home, Scranton.
Born in Wilkes-Barre Township, he was a son of the late John and Elizabeth Gyrick Metroka.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served as a sergeant.
He was employed in electrical maintenance by the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. He was last employed by Plains Township Sewer Authority.
He was a member of the Parish Community of Sacred Heart/St. Joseph in Plains Township; the Plains Township American Legion Joseph E. Conlon Post 558; and the Plains Township Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Emil, Michael, Charles, Andrew and John; and sisters, Irene Metroka and Elizabeth Martello.
Surviving are his wife, the former Eleanor Fanelli, with whom he celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 3; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday from the Corcoran Funeral Home, 20 S. Main St., Plains Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, Plains Township. Interment will be in the Italian Independent Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call from 7 to 9 this evening. The Plains Township Lions Club will meet at 6:45 this evening to pay their respects.
Miller, Kathryn A.
December 16, 2000
Kathryn A. Miller, of Tunkhannock, formerly of Lovelton, died Saturday at the Carpenter Care Center, Tunkhannock.
Born July 20, 1919, in Springfield, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Cornelius A. and Mona Donahue Scollard.
She and husband, the late Charles H. Miller, were the former owners of Millers General Store in Lovelton from 1946 to 1957, and Millers Grinding Service until their retirement in 1969. She also owned Kay's Ceramics in Lovelton. She was a member of the Church of Nativity B.V.M., Tunkhannock; and the Lovelton Grange. She served for many years on the North Branch Election Board in Wyoming county.
~In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mona "Happy" Crafts.
Surviving are her sons, Richard and Michael, both of Tunkhannock; daughters, Virginia Miner and Judith Bennett, both of Forkston; brothers, Cornelius Scollard, Dunedin, Fla.; and Gary Scollard, Las Vegas; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc., 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Nativity B.V.M. in Tunkhannock. Interment will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Stowell. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Ronczka, Louis
December 15, 2000
Louis P. "Kojak" Ronczka, 86, of Vineland, N.J., died Friday at the Nursing Center at Vineland, N.J.
Born in Nanticoke, he moved to Camden, N.J., in 1942, and to Vineland in 1987. He worked as a pipefitter at the RTC, New York and Camden shipyards for a total of 37 years. He also was a security guard at the Garden State Race Track.
He served in the National Guard and was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church of Vineland.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Dorothy V. (Jarosz) Ronczka, and daughter, Patricia A. Brown, both of Vineland; brother, Edward, and sister, Mary Zurilla, both of Nanticoke; one grandson and one granddaughter.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday from the Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, 1024 E. Landis Ave., Vineland. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services.
Shannon, Dolores
December 17, 2000
Dolores M. Shannon, of Ford Avenue, Kingston, died Sunday at home.
Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, she lived in Kingston for the last 32 years. She was the daughter of the late Leon J. and Helen R. (Babkowski) Murray, and was a 1950 graduate of Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre.
Before retirement, she was the owner/manager of the Brass, Wicker & Rattan Store, Kingston. She was a member of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward J. Murray.
Surviving are her husband, Leo J.; sons, Leo J., Jr., and John P., both of Kingston; daughters, Dee Ann Shannon Rush, Kingston; Marie Bealla, Forty Fort; brothers, Leon J., Crete, Ill.; and Ronald S., Chase; sister, Marlene Corcoran, Plains Township; three grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Joseph L. Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church. Monsignor Neil Van Loon will officiate. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 57 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, 18701; or Hospice Care of the VNA, 667 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, 18705.
Wiernusz, Chester
December 16, 2000
Chester James Wiernusz Sr., of Anderson Road, Tunkhannock, died Saturday in the emergency room at Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock.
Born June 6, 1936, in Tunkhannock, he was a son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Tyrarua Wiernusz.
He was a 1955 graduate of Tunkhannock High School and was employed by Tunkhannock Area School District in the maintenance department. He was a member of the Church of Nativity B.V.M., Tunkhannock.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Leonard Wiernusz, Edmund Wiernusz, Frank Scranta and Joseph Putek; and sister, Sophie Podlaski.
Surviving are his wife of 37 years, Irene Kobylski Wiernusz; sons, Chester J., Jr., Siloam Springs, Ark.; and Gerald, Kingston; brothers, Michael Wiernusz, Andrew Scranta and Theodore Scranta, all of Tunkhannock; sisters, Mary Chellis, Cecelia Kobylski and Ann Stroka, all of Tunkhannock; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc., 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at the Church of Nativity B.V.M. Interment will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Ardoline, Catherine
Dec. 18, 2000
Catherine Ardoline, of Broad Street, Pittston, died Monday at home.
Born in Pittston, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Walsh) Loftus. She worked for English and Ardoline Insurance Agency, Pittston. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert; and brothers, Thomas, Joseph, John, Francis, Edward and James; and sister, Mary Tracy.
Surviving are her son, James "Jimmy," at home; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held Thursday at a time to be announced from the Adonizio Funeral Home Inc., 251 William St., Pittston, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Evangelist Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Township. The viewing will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Beky, Elaine
Dec. 18, 2000
Elaine E. Beky, of Sixth Street, Wyoming, formerly of Swoyersville and Philadelphia, died Monday at the Hospice Community Care Unit at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Kingston, she was the daughter of Victoria Beky, Swoyersville, and the late Daniel Beky Jr. She was a graduate of Swoyersville High School and was valedictorian of her graduating class at Pittston Hospital School of Nursing. She was a medical staff coordinator at John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wilkes-Barre. She was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Wyoming.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, is her brother, Daniel, Exeter.
Funeral services will be at 8:30 a.m. Thursday from the Joseph L. Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, with the Rev. Walter Skiba officiating. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Township. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Elston, Gene
Dec. 17, 2000
Gene K. "Chick" Elston, 71, of Kunkle, died Sunday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Kunkle, he was a son of the late Ralph and Agnes (Isaacs) Elston. He attended Dallas Township schools. He was a truck driver and diesel mechanic for American Asphalt Co. Royer Foundry and Penn State Seed Co. He was a member of the Kunkle United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean (Klopko) Elston; son, Kevin; brothers, Gomer "Ike," Marvin "Jigs;" and sister, Dorothy Dodson.
Surviving are his son, Daniel G., Kunkle; daughters, Bonnie Menges, Kunkle; Sandra Faulls and Lynn Brown, both of Harveys Lake; 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; brother, Wayne "Baldy," Kunkle; and sister, Lana Birnstock, Dallas.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday from the Richard H. Disque Funeral Home Inc., 672 Memorial Highway, Dallas, with the Rev. Wayne Elston Jr. officiating. Interment will be in Orcutt's Grove Cemetery, Noxen. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kunkle Fire Co.; or to the Kunkle United Methodist Church.
Fennelly, Lowe
Dec. 18, 2000
Lowe J. Fennelly, 85, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Bethlehem, died Monday at Hospice Care of the VNA Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, Wilkes- Barre.
Born Jan. 12, 1915, in Newtonville, Mass., he was a son of the late John and Sarah (Burch) Fennelly. He was a 1932 graduate of Dickinson High School, Jersey City, N.J., and a graduate of Bliss Electrical School, Tacoma Park, Md. He was a customer engineer for IBM Corp., Bethlehem. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, Spring Hill, Fla., and its Chancel Choir. He was an ordained elder in the Church of the Manger (UCC), Bethlehem, and president of its congregation. He was a member of the Timbertones, a choral group in Timber Pines, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his brother, John; sisters, Chessley Bonanno and Elizabeth Raymond.
Surviving are his wife, the former Ruth Baird; daughter, Diane R. Gabriel, Laurys Station; son, Donald L., Naperville, Ill.; five grandsons, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Presbyterian Church, West Pittston. The Rev. James Thyren will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Zion Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care of the VNA Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, 80 E. Northampton St., Wilkes Barre; or to the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements are by the Howell-Lussi Funeral Home, 509 Wyoming Ave., West Pittston.
Gavrish, Anna
Dec. 17, 2000
Anna T. Gavrish, 89, of Arch Street, Glen Lyon section of Newport Township, died Sunday at the Mercy Health Care Center, Newport Township.Born June 20, 1911, in Dupont, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Frances (Kolis) Kutyla. She was a member of St. Adalbert's Church, Glen Lyon, and its Altar and Rosary Society.
Gutheit, Charlotte
Dec. 18, 2000
Charlotte Gutheit, 80, of Dan Flood Apartments, Kingston, died Monday at her home.
Born in New York City, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Yetta (Gratastein) Nimelman. She a Club member of the Dan Flood Apartments and many civic and religious organizations.
She was preceded her in death by her husband, Isadore.
Surviving are her daughter, Yvette Coda, Mount Pocono; two grandchildren; sister, Norma Blattberg, Hollywood, Fla.; one niece and three nephews.
A Graveside funeral service and interment will be held Wednesday in New Montefiore Cemetery, Wellwood, N.Y. Funeral arrangements are by the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel Inc., 348 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Shiva will be observed at the home of son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Coda, 32 Summit Drive, Mount Pocono, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Handzo, Ruth
Dec. 18, 2000
Ruth L. Handzo, 69, of Wilkes-Barre Township, formerly of California, New Hampshire and the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre, died Monday at Hospice Community Care, Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, where she was a patient since Dec. 15.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late Peter G. and Lillian (Reiser) George. She was a 1948 graduate of GAR High School, Wilkes-Barre. She worked in several area garment factories, including the Ann Will Garment Co., Kingston. She was a member of St. Luke's United Church of Christ and Ladies Auxiliary of Dieu Le Veut Commandry 45, Knights Templar, both of Wilkes-Barre, and associate member of Post 56, Veterans of the Vietnam War, Nanticoke. She was honored for her fund raising efforts by the Ronald McDonald House, Camden, N.J.
Surviving are her husband of 44 years, George, Jr.; sons, George D. Stivers III, Hughestown; and Steven G. Handzo, Edwardsville; daughters, Ruth Mary Brislin, Wilkes-Barre; and Lillian E. Handzo, Ashley; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; brother, Peter G. George Jr., Shavertown section of Kingston Township; sisters, Rita Heck, Wilkes-Barre; and Elizabeth Mangan, Bethlehem; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday from the H. Merritt Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 451 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Gary Jones officiating. Interment will be in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, c/o Dieu Le Veut Commandry 45, 235 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, 18701s.
