Schuylkill County Obituaries for 05/30/19
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Elizabeth (Betty) Chelak, 83, of Hummelstown, formerly of Mahanoy City PA, passed away Monday, May 27th, at Hershey Medical Center surrounded by her family. Born in Mahanoy City on February 18, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Elizabeth (Kotch) and Stephen Homa. Her husband, John Chelak, passed away in 2004.
Betty graduated from Mahanoy City High School Class of 1953. She was a member of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church Mahanoy City. Betty worked for Janowicz Dress Factory Mahanoy City and also for Kmart in Frackville.
She had a beautiful voice and was well known for singing in church, as well as at home. She enjoyed bingo and bowling, word circle puzzles and lottery rub-off’s, but Betty’s greatest joy was taking care of her family and her home, and she absolutely reveled in being “Twoo” to the light of her life, her grandson, Matthew.
Betty is survived by a daughter, Lori, and her husband Michael Pavlick; a son, John, and his wife Rebecca Chelak; one grandchild, Matthew John Pavlick; a brother, William Homa; many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Betty is preceded in death by brothers John, Frank and Stephen Homa, and sisters Helen Talnack and Anna Krupsky.
Office of Christian Burial and Divine Liturgy will take place at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Mahanoy City, at 11 am on Monday, June 3rd, with Rev. James Carroll officiating.
Friends may call at the church on Monday from 9:30 am until 11 am.
Interment will follow at the National Cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap Annville, PA.
In lieu of flowers, Betty’s family asks that you consider making a donation in Betty’s memory to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
Betty graduated from Mahanoy City High School Class of 1953. She was a member of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church Mahanoy City. Betty worked for Janowicz Dress Factory Mahanoy City and also for Kmart in Frackville.
She had a beautiful voice and was well known for singing in church, as well as at home. She enjoyed bingo and bowling, word circle puzzles and lottery rub-off’s, but Betty’s greatest joy was taking care of her family and her home, and she absolutely reveled in being “Twoo” to the light of her life, her grandson, Matthew.
Betty is survived by a daughter, Lori, and her husband Michael Pavlick; a son, John, and his wife Rebecca Chelak; one grandchild, Matthew John Pavlick; a brother, William Homa; many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Betty is preceded in death by brothers John, Frank and Stephen Homa, and sisters Helen Talnack and Anna Krupsky.
Office of Christian Burial and Divine Liturgy will take place at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Mahanoy City, at 11 am on Monday, June 3rd, with Rev. James Carroll officiating.
Friends may call at the church on Monday from 9:30 am until 11 am.
Interment will follow at the National Cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap Annville, PA.
In lieu of flowers, Betty’s family asks that you consider making a donation in Betty’s memory to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
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Shirley Valentine, 81 years of age of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania passed away on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at St. Luke's Miners Memorial in Coaldale, Pennsylvania.
Born Monday, February 7, 1938 in Coaldale, Pennsylvania the daughter of the late William E. and Catherine (Tomchick) Davis. She was also predeceased by; her husband, James E. Valentine, Sr; daughter, Kerri A. Klatka; brother, Donald Davis.
Surviving are sons, James E. Valentine, Jr. and his wife Allison of Lehighton, Zachary J. Valentine and his fianceé Jaclyn Fernandez of Jersey City, NJ; daughter, Vicki Lynn Valentine of Tamaqua; sisters, Carol Dean wife of Doug of Schuylkill Haven, Christine Noecker wife of Charles of Schuylkill Haven, Janice Barr wife of Charles of Pine Grove; grand children, Alexis, Adam, Mallory, Makenna, Autumn, Raina, Robert, Jr. and Jacob; great grand children, Michael, and Carlos.
A graduate of Coaldale High School, Shirley was a longtime member of St. John U.C.C. of Tamaqua. She enjoyed football, puzzles, and knitting; however, her life was devoted to caring for her family.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Graveside Funeral Service will be held at 3:30 PM on Friday May 31, 2019 from St. Jerome R.C.C. Cemetery, Tamaqua. Pennsylvania.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com
Fusae "Flossie" Starr, age 87, of Valley View, passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center.
She was born on Wednesday, September 23, 1931, in Tokyo, Japan, a daughter of the late Macherio and Yonne Iwawaki.
She was preceded in death by her parents; by a son, Joseph O Starr; and by a brother, Nowaki Iwawaki.
She is survived by her husband Ralph E Starr, to whom she was married for 68 years.
She is also survived by three daughters, Christine A Schetting and her husband Mike of Hampton, VA, Cathy J Heffernan and her husband Gerry of Redondo Beach, CA, and Coni L Forcey and her husband Tim of Sandringham, Australia; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two brothers, Hediako and Osomo of Japan; three sisters, Yoko, Nodiko, and Edisko all of Japan; and several nieces and nephews.
As per Flossie's wishes there will be no services.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.
Born Monday, February 7, 1938 in Coaldale, Pennsylvania the daughter of the late William E. and Catherine (Tomchick) Davis. She was also predeceased by; her husband, James E. Valentine, Sr; daughter, Kerri A. Klatka; brother, Donald Davis.
Surviving are sons, James E. Valentine, Jr. and his wife Allison of Lehighton, Zachary J. Valentine and his fianceé Jaclyn Fernandez of Jersey City, NJ; daughter, Vicki Lynn Valentine of Tamaqua; sisters, Carol Dean wife of Doug of Schuylkill Haven, Christine Noecker wife of Charles of Schuylkill Haven, Janice Barr wife of Charles of Pine Grove; grand children, Alexis, Adam, Mallory, Makenna, Autumn, Raina, Robert, Jr. and Jacob; great grand children, Michael, and Carlos.
A graduate of Coaldale High School, Shirley was a longtime member of St. John U.C.C. of Tamaqua. She enjoyed football, puzzles, and knitting; however, her life was devoted to caring for her family.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Graveside Funeral Service will be held at 3:30 PM on Friday May 31, 2019 from St. Jerome R.C.C. Cemetery, Tamaqua. Pennsylvania.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com
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Fusae "Flossie" Starr, age 87, of Valley View, passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center.
She was born on Wednesday, September 23, 1931, in Tokyo, Japan, a daughter of the late Macherio and Yonne Iwawaki.
She was preceded in death by her parents; by a son, Joseph O Starr; and by a brother, Nowaki Iwawaki.
She is survived by her husband Ralph E Starr, to whom she was married for 68 years.
She is also survived by three daughters, Christine A Schetting and her husband Mike of Hampton, VA, Cathy J Heffernan and her husband Gerry of Redondo Beach, CA, and Coni L Forcey and her husband Tim of Sandringham, Australia; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two brothers, Hediako and Osomo of Japan; three sisters, Yoko, Nodiko, and Edisko all of Japan; and several nieces and nephews.
As per Flossie's wishes there will be no services.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.
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William G. Chernosky, Sr., 90, of West West Terrace, Branch Township, passed away on Wednesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Schuylkill – East.
Born in Forestville, Cass Township, he was a son of the late James and Bridget Simmendinger Chernosky. He attended Cass Township schools, and worked in local mines as a young man. He was later employed as a drag-line shovel operator, having last worked for Blaschak Coal Company.
He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. He was also a member of the Forestville Citizens Fire Company.
He was preceded in death by three siblings, Elizabeth Antonelli, Margaret Mabry and James Chernosky.
Surviving are his wife, the former Eileen Travis, with whom he celebrated 62 years of marriage on May 11; two sons, William G. “Bud” Chernosky, Jr. (spouse, Tammy), Forestville, and Richard Chernosky (spouse, Rose), Buck Run; two granddaughters, Mercedes Chernosky and Yuiko Chernosky; a great-granddaughter, Mercedes Chernosky. He is also survived by a sister, Constance “Connie” Motko, Marlin; a sister-in-law, Carol Dutter, Easton; nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may call at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Monday from 6:00 P.M. and on Tuesday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 A.M. in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 539 Sunbury Street, Minersville. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hillside, Pottsville.
Born in Forestville, Cass Township, he was a son of the late James and Bridget Simmendinger Chernosky. He attended Cass Township schools, and worked in local mines as a young man. He was later employed as a drag-line shovel operator, having last worked for Blaschak Coal Company.
He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville. He was also a member of the Forestville Citizens Fire Company.
He was preceded in death by three siblings, Elizabeth Antonelli, Margaret Mabry and James Chernosky.
Surviving are his wife, the former Eileen Travis, with whom he celebrated 62 years of marriage on May 11; two sons, William G. “Bud” Chernosky, Jr. (spouse, Tammy), Forestville, and Richard Chernosky (spouse, Rose), Buck Run; two granddaughters, Mercedes Chernosky and Yuiko Chernosky; a great-granddaughter, Mercedes Chernosky. He is also survived by a sister, Constance “Connie” Motko, Marlin; a sister-in-law, Carol Dutter, Easton; nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may call at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Monday from 6:00 P.M. and on Tuesday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 A.M. in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 539 Sunbury Street, Minersville. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hillside, Pottsville.
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Jody Lynn Karkanica Hoster, of Minersville, returned to the earth on Wednesday at the age of 51.
Born in Pottsville on May 29 1968, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Josephine Vanzl Karkanica.
Jody was an avid music lover and known for her passion for dancing. She could be spotted at the local picnics dancing to the families traditional Polka's. Jody will be remembered for her long blonde hair, her gift to gab and most of all she had love for her family.
In addition to her parents, Jody was predeceased by a sister, Cheryl Karkanica, and a nephew, Paul G. Krieger.
Jody is survived by her loving children, Damien P. Karkanica, Sonja Karkanica, and Dwight Hoster; her admired and loved grandchildren, Korvin, Kenzie, Dayle and Abigail; her sisters, Karen DeCarr, wife of Skip, Brenda Colna, wife of Paul, and Debra Miller; six nieces, Salena, Rachel, Justene, Amanda, Kendra and Vanessa; four nephews, Steven, Joshua, Brett and Evian; her aunt Marie Bainbridge, wife of Butch; cousins; great-nephews and great-nieces.
The family will accept visitors at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Tuesday from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Interment will be at the convenience of the family.
Jody Lynn Karkanica Hoster, of Minersville, returned to the earth on Wednesday at the age of 51.
Born in Pottsville on May 29 1968, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Josephine Vanzl Karkanica.
Jody was an avid music lover and known for her passion for dancing. She could be spotted at the local picnics dancing to the families traditional Polka's. Jody will be remembered for her long blonde hair, her gift to gab and most of all she had love for her family.
In addition to her parents, Jody was predeceased by a sister, Cheryl Karkanica, and a nephew, Paul G. Krieger.
Jody is survived by her loving children, Damien P. Karkanica, Sonja Karkanica, and Dwight Hoster; her admired and loved grandchildren, Korvin, Kenzie, Dayle and Abigail; her sisters, Karen DeCarr, wife of Skip, Brenda Colna, wife of Paul, and Debra Miller; six nieces, Salena, Rachel, Justene, Amanda, Kendra and Vanessa; four nephews, Steven, Joshua, Brett and Evian; her aunt Marie Bainbridge, wife of Butch; cousins; great-nephews and great-nieces.
The family will accept visitors at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Tuesday from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Interment will be at the convenience of the family.
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Joel Keith Herring, 51, of Fair Rd., Wayne Twp., Schuylkill Haven, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at home.
Born on November 24, 1967 in Pottsville, he was a son of the late William Sr. and Dorothy I. Neidlinger Herring.
He attended Blue Mt. High School and was a member of Hetzel's Lutheran Church, Pine Grove. He was also a member of the Friedensburg Gun Club, Shartlesville Gun Club, Rock Fish and Game and Summit Station Fire Co.
Joel was a construction worker for J D Eckman, Inc. in Atglen, Pa.
Surviving are four brothers, William Herring, Jr. and Jeffrey Herring of Schuylkill Haven, Michael Herring of Minnesota, Rodney Herring of Pine Grove; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. from the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Rev. Eugene Eckroth officiating. There will be a viewing on Monday, June 3, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Hetzel's Cemetery, Pine Grove.
The family would prefer no flowers and contributions be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY or online at parkinson.org in his memory.
You may send condolences to the family online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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