Schuylkill County Obituaries for 01/28/19
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John M. "Lover" Tassone, 58, of Auburn, passed away Friday at his residence.
John was born in Pottsville, Aug. 15, 1960, a son of Bridget J. Mason Tassone and the late George M. Tassone.
He was the husband of Mary J. Wenrich Tassone. The couple shared 24 wonderful years of marriage.
John was a graduate of Nativity BVM, Class of 1980. He then earned an associate's degree in accounting and business administration from Schuylkill Business Institute.
In addition to his father, John was preceded in death by a niece, Stephanie.
He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ Summer Hill, Auburn. He also enjoyed playing wheelchair basketball, darts and pool. He played the harmonica and enjoyed the blues. He was a rabid Dallas Cowboys fan.
He was employed by Independent Living Centers, Anthracite Region, Berks County AIM Center for Independent Living and the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania.
John served on the Governor's Committee for the employment of people with disabilities. He also served as the president on the self-determination housing project. He served on the board of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation and Transportation Alliance. He was also a governor-appointed board member of Pennsylvania statewide independent living council, the director of operations at Schuylkill Transportation System and a coordinator for the Schuylkill County LINK.
John achieved all of these things to benefit people with disabilities, despite years of dealing with constant, chronic pain.
In addition to his wife and mother, John is survived by a sister, Inez Dombrowski, wife of James, of Pottsville; two brothers, George M. Tassone Jr., husband of Linda Tassone, of Pottsville, and Louis Tassone, of Pottsville. He is also survived by nieces and nephews; his beloved dog, Betsy.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ Summer Hill, Auburn, with Pastor Kenneth McDowell officiating. A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Thursday. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's United Church of Christ Living Memorial Fund, Auburn, PA 17922. Interment will follow at Summer Hill Cemetery.
Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Homes Inc. has been entrusted with arrangements.
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Born on May 2, 1942 in Donaldson, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Mae Morgan Kimmel.
She was a graduate of Donaldson High School and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Donaldson.
Nancy loved sprint car racing, her cats and dogs and crocheting.
Preceding her in death were her husband Robert L. Reed, Sr. in 2016; a great granddaughter Alexia Lymaster; 6 brothers: Edward, William, Marlin, Ronald, Kenneth and Robert; two sisters, Betty and Gladys.
Surviving are two sons, Robert Jr. and wife Jodi Reed of Tremont, Jeffrey Reed of Pottsville; daughter, Jodi Reed and companion Mike Kroh of Donaldson; 10 grandchildren, Jacqueline, Brett, Donavan, Aaron, Randy, Heather, Liliahna, Ashlee, Weston, Erika; 2 great grandchildren; sister, Shirley Wolfgang of Pine Grove.
Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 2:30 P.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Rev. Krista Roehrig officiating. There will be a visitation on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from 1:30 P.M. until 2:30 P.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Donaldson Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to Zion Lutheran Church, c/o Frank Mohn, 19 E. Center St., Donaldson, Pa, 17981 in her memory.
You may send condolences to the family at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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Elizabeth M. “Betty” Shirey, 91, of Pottsville, formerly of Port Carbon, passed away on Saturday at home.
Born in Saint Clair, she was a daughter of the late David Evans and Matilda Shirey. She was a graduate of St. Stephen’s High School, Port Carbon. She was employed in the local garment industry.
She enjoyed crocheting and crafts.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Robert L. Shirey, on December 19, 2002.
Betty is survived by four sons, Thomas Shirey (spouse, Tina), Pottsville, Robert Shirey (spouse, April), Pottsville, David Shirey (spouse, June), Pottsville, and Gary Shirey (spouse, Pam), Virginia. She is also survived by a brother, David Evans (spouse, Patricia), Port Carbon; two sisters, Joan Dalton, Pottsville, and Rita Fenstermacher, Pottsville; nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Friday at 1:30 P.M. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, East Hanover Township.
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Mary Bickelman, 91, of Jonestown, Cass Township, passed away on Saturday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Schuylkill – East.
Born in Black Heath, Cass Township on February 5, 1927, she was a daughter of the late John and Antonia Pellish Depsky. She attended Cass Township schools, leaving school at the age of 16 to help support her family by working in the local garment industry. .
Well known as the family’s best dancer, Mary could do the polka with the best in the area. She was also known for her world-class halupkis which were shared among family and friends over the years.
She was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville.
Mary was married to Carl W. Bickelman on November 20, 1954. After celebrating 61 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on May 8, 2016. She was also preceded by a grandson, Ryan John Bickelman, on October 19, 1991. She was the last of her siblings, having survived five brothers, Paul Depsky, Michael Depsky, Leo Depsky, Steve Depsky and John Magic; six sisters, Anna Sule, Stella Depsky, Helen Gontarchick, Catherine Lingle, Jean Poppert and Amelia Torola.
Surviving are two sons, John Bickelman (spouse, Diane), Wayne Township, and Joseph Bickelman (spouse, Lisa), Primrose, Cass Township; six grandchildren, Jillian and Kirsten Bickelman, Melissa Giuffre (spouse, Giuseppe), Joe and Joshua Bickelman; four great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Alexa, Max and Luke Giuffre; nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her future granddaughter-in-law, Tiffani Geist, who was her primary caregiver in the last years of her life.
Relatives and friends may call at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Thursday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. Requiem Divine Liturgy will be held in St. Nicholas Church, 415 Front Street, Minersville, at 10:00 A.M. The family prefers contributions to St. Nicholas Church or to South Cass Fire Company, 15 Water Lane, Pottsville. Interment will be in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Branch Township.
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James G. Chistakoff, 86, of Branch Township, passed away on Sunday at home.
Born in Yorktown, Carbon County, he was a son of the late George J. Chistakoff, Sr. and the late Sally Ann Yanick Chistakoff. He was the valedictorian of the Class of 1950 at Reilly Township High School. He worked for Continental Can Company, Paterson, New Jersey until retiring in 1980.
He was a member of St. John Polish National Catholic Church, Frackville, where he had served as the vice-chairman of the church committee.
Preceding him in death were his wife of 56 years, the former Helen Spirko, on October 1, 2016; a son, James Chistakoff, Jr.; a daughter, at birth; an infant sister, another sister, Marion Baker, a brother, George Chistakoff, Jr.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Rosemarie Neidlinger; two grandchildren, Desiree Smith and Alex Neidlinger. He is also survived a brother, Leonard Chistakoff, Phoenix Park; nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to offer comfort and support to Jim’s family on Saturday evening from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville. Memorial services will be at 6:00 P.M. with Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis officiating.
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Ruth E. Hauck, 85, a former resident of Zion Grove and Nuremberg, passed away Sunday morning, January 27, 2019 at the Butler Valley Manor in Drums, where she was currently a guest.
Born in Nuremberg on April 9, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Mabel (Gutshaw) Schaluch. She was a former member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Nuremberg and was a lifelong homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Ralph Hauck, and by a daughter, Lisa and by brothers Samuel Schlauch, Richard Schlauch and Alvin Schlauch.
She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Geising of Fern Glen, Beverly Baker of Zion Grove, Bonnie Wagner of Nuremberg, Sharon Holland of Fern Glen, Kathy, wife of George Kreisher of Girardville, Robin Gilbert of Ringtown, Brenda Berlanda of Nuremberg, and by a brother, Donald Schlauch of Mt. Grove and a sister Nancy Broyles of Tennessee.
She is also survived by grandchildren, great grandchildren and great- great-grandchildren along with nieces and nephews.
A funeral services will be held on Monday, February 4th at 11 AM at the Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home, 412 West Main Street, Ringtown. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing from 9-11 AM prior to the service Monday.
Ruth will be laid to rest at the Nuremberg Cemetery, immediately following the services.
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