Thursday, February 18, 2021

Skook News Obituaries: February 18th, 2021

                                   

Skook News Obituaries: February 18th, 2021

Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.

----------------------------------------------

John C. Grazis, Jr.
, 77, of Pottsville, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday afternoon at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, Allentown, with his family by his side.

Born in Pottsville, on May 7, 1943, he was a son of the late John C. and Mary (Spontak) Grazis, Sr.

He was a graduate of Pottsville High School Class of 1961 and Villanova University, where he received a degree in Economics.

John proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

He worked and co-owned The Woodshop in Eureka, CA.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Grazis.

John is survived by his children: sons: John A. Grazis, of Roseville, CA; Martin Faux, of Eureka, CA; his daughter: Monique Faux, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: and step-daughters Danè Hulings and Elaina LeValley of Eureka, CA; grandchildren: Brooke Grazis, Zachary and Darby Stein, Mason and Molly Faux, Gemma, Emme, Collin, Colby, and Caleb Hulings.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 20th at 12 noon at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. A visitation with the family will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service in the funeral home with Deacon Jack Quirk officiating.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.

----------------------------------------------

Richard A. Tice
, 78, of Pine Grove, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Pinebrook Assisted Living, Orwigsburg.

Born on May 18, 1942 in Pine Grove, he was a son of the late Harry A. and Irene Spangler Tice.

He was a 1961 graduate of Pine Grove High School and a member of the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont.

Richard was a Supervisor at Canoe Mfg. in Pine Grove.

Richards hobby was farming. He enjoyed working on the family or local area farms and spending that time with family and friends.

Preceding him in death were six brothers, Eugene, Martin, Harry, Edward, John and Charles Tice; two sisters, Hazel Heffner and Christine Zerbe.

Surviving are three sons, Richard Todd and wife Justine Tice of Pine Grove, Timothy and wife Sherrie Tice of Medina, TN, Lee Michael and wife Rhonda Tice of Boonesboro, MD; two daughters, Tracy and husband Glenn Meek of Bellefonte, Jaime and husband Eric Reinhart of Pottstown; 10 grandchildren, Martha Vogel, Meredith Tice, Coty Tice, Katie Tice, Travis Tice, Landon Sweitzer, Hailey Sweitzer, Eva Meek, Sophia Reinhart, and Tyler Reinhart; one step grandson, Chrispin Bray, Jr.; one great grandson Tristen; a brother, Robert Tice; four sisters, Cecilia Aungst, Mary Louise Kramer, Catherine Leisey, and Theresa White; nieces and nephews.

Graveside Services and interment will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 1810 Jay St., Lebanon, on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 12:15 P.M. with Fr. George Kochuparambil officiating and will be live streamed from the Funeral Home Facebook page. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:30 A.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove.

You may send condolences to the family online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com

----------------------------------------------

Reba F. Leininger, 93, of Pine Grove, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at The Gardens at York Terrace.

Born on July 2, 1927 in Pine Grove, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Rena Aungst Owens.

She was a graduate of Pine Grove High School.

Reba was a Seamstress for Canoe Mfg. in Pine Grove.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles E. Leininger; a son, Charles A. Leininger; a brother, Edward Owens, Sr.; and two sisters, Jean Strausser and Pauline Lehr.

Surviving are a son John Leininger of California; a daughter, Faye DeMuth of Philadelphia; 6 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

All Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove.

The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove, is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com

----------------------------------------------

Anthony C. Barber died peacefully on February 17, 2021 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-East. He was born in Ashland, the son of Anthony J. and Mary ( nee Aaron ) Barber. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters, Anna Mae Tophoney, Betty Barber and Mary Catherine Kane O’Neill.

After graduation from Butler Township High School, he worked and eventually retired after over 40 years at Goulds Pumps, now ITT Industries. He was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church.

Surviving are his wife, Marie; children, Joseph, Marie and Rose Mary; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Daniel; nieces, nephews, cousins.

Services and burial are private and at the convenience of the immediate family. A memorial Mass will be scheduled in the future.



Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Girardville is in charge of the arrangements.

----------------------------------------------

Eugene P. "Gene" DeCindio
, husband, father, son, brother, of New Ringgold, Pennsylvania passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at home, at 50 years of age.

Born Friday, September 11, 1970 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Eugene "Ginty" DeCindio and Jacqueline (Quinn) DeCindio of Tuscarora. Gene is also survived by; his wife, Melisa M. Hoshauer; son, Dillian E. DeCindio; daughter, Kayla DeCindio; son, Mark T. Smith; brother, Tony DeCindio and his wife Debbie; sisters, Josephine Uher and her husband John, Marie DeCindio and Theresa DeCindio. Many nieces, nephews and friends also survive Gene.

Gene was a graduate of Marian Catholic High School and became a “Devil Dog,” enlisting in the United States Marine Corps for four years. He served in Operation Desert Shield Storm/Shield, spending five months in combat. Gene stood alongside fellow Marines with India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Division, which was a field artillery unit. During the war, Gene was in direct contact with the enemy. Due to the rapid tempo of the war, his unit became engaged in direct infantry style engagements with the enemy and his unit was responsible for capturing hundreds of enemy forces. Gene was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the expert Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Badge.

After working several years with the Department of Corrections for Pennsylvania, Gene transitioned to service as a police officer with the Muhlenberg Township Police Department. He was an accomplished marksman and became one of the firearms instructors for the police department as well as one of the premier firearms experts in the law enforcement community. Gene was known as a patient instructor who mastered the art of instructing and helping his brother officers. Also, due to Gene’s leadership abilities and knowledge of police doctrine, he was appointed as a Field Training Officer for newly hired officers. Gene was certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association as a bicycle patrol officer. He was involved in many robust situations with criminals and always performed his duties with honor to protect the citizens he served.

Gene was fond of the outdoors and a lifelong hunter. He shared his expertise of firearms with many family members, friends, and fellow police officers. Gene loved tending to his small farm and loved the peace and serenity of living in a rural area and tending to various farm animals.

Private Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550

Interment with Military Honors to be bestowed Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville, Pennsylvania.

A Public Celebration of Gene's Life will take place on Thursday February 25, 2021 at the New Ringgold Fire Company 25 East Railroad Ave. New Ringgold, Pennsylvania 17960 from 5 to 7 o'clock P.M.

online expressions of sympathy can be expressed by visiting www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com

----------------------------------------------

John Ralph Cugusi
, fondly known to all as “Jack”, age 90 of Mahanoy City passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, under loving hospice care at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill East, Pottsville after battling COVID-19.

Born on April 14, 1930 and raised in Shenandoah, Jack was the son of the late Salvatore and Mary Ann (Colosimo) Cugusi.

Jack's love of country brought him to proudly serve in the Army, stationed in the Far East. He later worked at Purolator, and the Sealy Corp. in Delano. Jack was a member of the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Shenandoah.

A devoted son and brother, Jack was a happy, extraordinarily kind, and selfless man who was dedicated to caring for his family. Always there to lend a hand, his family and friends came first. His optimism was relentless, he always had a joke to share with the intent of putting a smile on your face. Jack had a genuine interest in whomever he met, but he adored his many nieces and nephews, especially his most recent grand niece and nephew, Isabella and Giovanni, and great-great-nephew Nikolai, who brought him so much joy in return.

Preceding him in death was his dear friend Aida Kalinock; two brothers, Carmen and Dominick Cugusi; four sisters, Jean Benashunas, Mary Hogan, Angelina Tite and Antoinette Opella.

Surviving are two brothers, Louis Cugusi of Mahanoy City and Joseph Cugusi and his wife Joanne of Frackville; and two sisters, Anna Gottstine of Shenandoah and Isabel Fornito of Conneticut; along with many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services with military honors will be held privately at the convenience of the family in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.

Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements. To leave a condolence for Jack's family, please sign the guestbook below.

----------------------------------------------

Helen A McCoy
, age 93, of Ashland, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on February 18, 2021. She was the first of 12 children, born in Lost Creek,PA to Patrick and Molly Reilly on December 27, 1927 in Lost Creek PA. She was the wife of Joseph McCoy for 64 years, before his passing in 2019.

She attended West Mahanoy Township High School and Empire Beauty School, opening her own Beauty Shop in Lost Creek. After years of raising her daughters, she returned to work at her brother’s business, Naturalizer/Buster Brown Stores.

She was a member of St Charles Borromeo Parish and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the Friends of St Joseph.

More than anything she loved spending time with her family and playing bridge with her friends.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary (Jack) Wood of N Catasauqua, PA, Ellen (Bob) Sutjak of Slatington PA, and Sheila Zeplin of Durham, NC, seven grandchildren Shawn (Jen) Zeplin, Keith (Shannon) Zeplin, Kathleen (George) Eckinger, Kelly (Kyle) Martinelli, Robert (Amanda) Sutjak, Matthew (Cait) Sutjak, Kevin Sutjak and fiancé Lesly Jarvis, great grandchildren Carson, Annabelle, Everly, Luca, Hannah, Emma, Adeline and Wesley . Siblings Joseph, Tony, Patrick, Robert (Jen), William (Trish) and Thomas (Terry) Reilly, Irene Bradshaw, Patricia Kowalick, and Fran (Gene) Coughlin, sisters in laws, Carole Reilly, Mary Ellen Reilly, Sally Egan, Peggy Carroll, Diane McCoy.
She is predeceased by son in law Rod Zeplin, brothers John and James Reilly, sisters in law, Joan, Fran, Carol and Nancy Reilly and brothers in law Phil Bradshaw and Paul Kowalick.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Feb.20,2021 at 11:00 AM in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Ashland,PA. Rev. Brian Miller officiating. Interment at the convenience of the family. Visitation Saturday 9:30-11:00 AM from St. Charles Borromeo Church, Ashland,PA.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St Charles Borromeo Parish, Ashland.
Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home Inc., Charles Heizenroth III, Supervisor has charge.

----------------------------------------------