Obituaries for Schuylkill County and the surrounding areas.
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Eric Richard Jones, 41, of New Tripoli, PA and formerly of Lehighton, PA, died on Thursday, June 18, 2020 in West Penn Township, PA.
He was the husband of Sarah (nee Theobald) Jones to whom he was married 10 years. Born in Coaldale, PA on February 14, 1979, Eric was the son of Richard and Bonnie (nee Mohrbach) Jones of Lehighton. A 1997 graduate of the Carbon County Area Vocational Technical School, he earned a degree in Environmental and Safety Management in 1999 from Northampton Community College. Eric worked for Pitt Ohio Express for 11 years before taking operation and ownership of Jones Sanitation for the last 7 years. He was a member of Ebenezer United Church of Christ, New Tripoli and the Ontelaunee Rod & Gun Club, New Tripoli. Very mechanical minded, Eric fully restored a 1965 Pontiac GTO.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by children, Caleb Jones and Delana Jones at home; sister, Lisa Jones Roesch and her husband Michael of Chatham, NJ; 3 nephews; a niece; and grandmother, Kathleen Jones of Tamaqua, PA.
Eric was predeceased by a son, Alexander in 2010.
Services will be held at 11 AM on Friday, June 26 at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua with The Rev. Lance Moyer officiating. Interment in Jacob’s Union Church Cemetery, Jacksonville, New Tripoli will follow the services. Call 9-11 AM at the funeral home. Attendees are reminded of the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and are kindly asked to wear a mask and observe physical distancing. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that memorials be made to an educational fund for his children in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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Christine Marie Steele, 57, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away Saturday, June 20th, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Schuylkill, E. Norwegian St., Pottsville. Christine was born in Pottsville on March 4, 1963, a daughter of the late Mary Jane (Porter) and Ronald Lynch.
She was a graduate of Blue Mountain High School and formerly employed by Hollander Sleep Products, Pottsville.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother David Lynch.
Christine is survived by a son, Travis, husband of Brooke Kalbach, of Schuylkill Haven; a brother, John Lynch, of Schuylkill Haven; a grand daughter, Aubrey Lynch; a niece, Jessica Reppert; a nephew, Ian Lynch.
A visitation for family and friends will be held at Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home, Inc., Schuylkill Haven on Friday, June 26th from 10-11am. No service will be held.
Interment will be held privately at Schuylkill Memorial Park Schuylkill Haven.
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Peter Rachko, of Frackville, died June 20, 2020.
Born in Frackville, he was a son of the late Michael and Julia Rachko.
He graduated from Frackville High School and Ford School of Business.
Peter served in the Army with the rank of specialist E5, stationed in Korea. He retired from the Finance and Accounting Office at Fort Indiantown Gap. He was the supervisor of the Quality Assurance Office.
He was a member of Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Frackville, where he served on the church council.
He was a life member of Good Will Fire Company, Frackville, life member of the Saint Clair AMVETS Post 142 and a member of VFW Post 9639 Shellsville.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Stephen, the Rev. John, George, Dimitri and the Rev. Michael; sisters, Mary Harrahus and Helen Van Cleave.
Surviving are nieces, nephews and his friend, Larue Lightner.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2020, at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, 209 S. Lehigh Ave., Frackville, PA 17931. The Very Rev. James Jadick will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Ascension Church Building Fund at the above address. Interment with military honors will be held in Holy Ascension Orthodox Cemetery, Frackville. Nice-Hart Funeral Home Inc., Frackville, is in charge of arrangements.
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Carol A. Herb, 77, of Frackville, died Friday, June 19, 2020, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton. Born Nov. 10, 1942, in Frackville, she was a daughter of the late William and Dorothy (Dillman) Herb.
She retired from Acme Super Markets, having worked at various stores.
Carol was a very active member of Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, Frackville, serving as a trustee on its board and a lay delegate to its conference.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, David Herb and Raymond Herb.
Surviving are sister, Joan Palsgrove and her husband, Orval, Frackville; Godchild and caretaker, Brianna Dixon, Frackville; nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 29, 2020, from Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, 56 N. Balliet St., Frackville. The Rev. Jeff Merwine will officiate. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. June 29 at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity EC Church at the above address. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Frackville.
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Theresa M. Kanick, 90, a resident of the Shenandoah High Rise Apartments passed away early Monday morning, June 22, 2020 at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street, Pottsville. Born in Shenandoah on June 24, 1929 she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Antoinette “Tessie” (Kiauleviciute) Kanick.
She was a retired garment worker having last worked for the former Villa Fashions, Shenandoah.
Theresa was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah formerly Saint George’s Church. She was also a member of the ILGWU. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed fishing, picking huckleberries and mushrooms and tending to her garden. Above all, she cherished the time spent with her family. She was a kind person who was very generous to her family and friends.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents were two brothers, Anthony and John Kanick; three sisters, Jean Schaff, Mary Domozik and Anna Chowansky; and two nephews, Robert Kanick and Joseph Domozik. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Surviving are her nieces and nephews, Joan Thomas, Antoinette Tranter and her husband Terry, Linda Schaaf, Diane Sinclair and her husband Randy, Paul Chowansky and his wife Julie, Patricia Chowansky, Karen Natale and her husband Joseph and Harry Chowansky, III and his wife Lisa; great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 10:00 am in Divine Mercy Church, 232 West Cherry Street, Shenandoah with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. All CDC and PA Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines will be observed.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to Divine Mercy Parish Memorial Fund or the Father Walter J. Ciszek Chapel Fund, both c/o 108 West Cherry Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements.
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