Skook News Obituaries: August 1st, 2022
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Katherine (Kay) E. Lord, of Pottsville, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 29, 2022 at
Providence Place at the age of 98.
Born in Pottsville, on September 2, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Harry W. and Ada Elizabeth (Boyer) Hildebrand. She had a wonderful brother, Warren Hildebrand, who passed away in 1992.
She was a 1941 graduate of Pottsville High School and 1942 graduate of Pierce Business School in Philadelphia .
Kay attended St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, where she belonged to the St. Patrick's Council of Catholic Women. She also taught Sunday School and Bible School at the Methodist Church.
She was very active in the Pottsville Community and a member of the following organizations: Philanthropic Club, Pottsville Hospital Auxilliary, Pottsville Garden Club, Pottsville Torray Club, Order of Eastern Star, PA Council of Republican Women, Rest Haven Auxilliary, Historical Society, YWCA, Current Events Club, American Red Cross, Heart Association, Bridge Club, Bowling Club, Mah Jong Club, and was an assistant to the local Boy and Girl Scout Troops.
Kay was a homemaker and assisted in the family business; the former Lord Funeral Home, Pottsville. Her large family meant the world to her and she looked forward to the many family gatherings and beach trips over the years.
She was the loving wife of G. Ryland Lord, who passed away in 2010. They were married in 1942 and had 68 years of happiness.
Kay and Ryland had five children: Marilyn Dragna, wife of the late Charles Dragna; C. Ryland Lord, husband of Carolyn Lord; Kathy Lord; the late Claude A. Lord, who passed away in 2018; and Harry W. Lord, husband of Debbie Lord; 12 grandchildren: Damie Larson, Bryn Dragna, Kalyn Hinkle, Taryn Dragna, Creigh Lord, Kristen Cesari, Jeff Lord, Eric Esby, Greg Schwartz, Jon Schwartz, Tori Lord, and Nick Lord; 22 great grandchildren; 7 great- great grandchildren; 2 nieces and 3 nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 6th at 11:00 a.m. at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, with Deacon Jack Quirk officiating. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service in the funeral home.
Interment will follow in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Kay's memory be sent to: Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. Pottsville, PA 17901 and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 555 Croton Rd., Suite 111, King of Prussia, PA 19406.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
He graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School, Class of 1979 and was a member of St. John's Church, Auburn; where he volunteered at the monthly food pantry.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-seven years, Elaine, a son, Keith and his partner, Alex, two grandchildren: Caroline and Wil, all of Lancaster. As well as brothers Dale and his wife, Kaye, of Schuylkill Haven, and Terry and his wife, Alretta, of Auburn, and nieces and nephews.
He was loved by many and will be missed by all those who knew him.
Gurney Q. Williard, 80, of Auburn, passed away Sunday, July 31st, at St. Luke's Hospital, Orwigsburg.
He was the husband of Barbara (Reed) Williard.
He served in the U.S. Army.
At the family's request, memorial donations may be forwarded to Grace Evangelical Congregational Church at 151 Earl Stoyer Road, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.
Jean Gloria Wirbisky, 86, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away at the Seasons Hospice at Christianacare Wilmington on 26 June 2022 after a long illness. She left a stunning legacy of love and caring for her family and friends (and for strangers who quickly became friends), all of whom are still trying to grapple with her departure from this earth.
Jean was born on 24 June 1936 to Albert and Mary Arminavage in the central Pennsylvania coal town of Shenandoah, where Albert worked as a coal miner and Mary as a seamstress. Jean had a younger brother, Albert Jr., and a younger sister, Marie Odietus, who survives her, and together they all made a household full of love and joy. Jean's adoring three sons, Theodore Jr., Alan, and David, remember with delight that whenever they would visit their grandparents, their grandfather would turn on the local polka music television show, and polka around the living room with their mother.
The indomitable joy that Jean found in life was a phenomenon that struck people with awe. In the face of adversity, she always gave thanks for what she had to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and professed that 'life is beautiful.' Undoubtedly her greatest joys in life were her grandchildren, Lauren Spain, Mark Wirbisky, Sara Wirbisky, and Christine Fauver, as well as her great-grandson, Sara's son Jasper. Jean spent many years working as a secretary at the Wilmington Trust Company on Rodney Square, where she was dearly beloved by all and where her Lucille Ball-like antics became the stuff of legend.
Jean's sons are profoundly and eternally grateful to the community of family, friends, and neighbors who helped take care of her as her health declined. Their exquisite kindness to her was inspired by what they saw every day in her soul.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Jean's extraordinary life will be held on August 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Helena's Roman Catholic Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809. Her burial will be held on Friday, August 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights, Pennsylvania.
Ruth worked at the Dorman shirt factory in Gratz for many years. She was a long time member of Himmel's Church and was a past member of Idella Rebecca Lodge. She and her husband enjoyed camping and traveling to many state and national parks. She enjoyed making quilts for her children and grandchildren. Ruth was a graduate of Hubley High School, class of 1943.
Ruth is survived by sons, Kerry (Betty) and Dale (Kathy) Fetter; eight grandchildren, Linda Fetter, Karin (Todd) Cole, Kara (Shawn) Duncan, Gwen Fetter, Jeremi (Melissa) Fetter, Stephanie (Jessie) Stiely, Jeremy White, Charles (Sally) White; 15 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cletus and son, Lee Fetter, granddaughter, Mary Anne Fetter, brothers, Allen, Wayne, Clair and Russell Wagner, sisters, Verna Smeltz, Grace Masser, Edna Rabuck and Elva Christine.
A viewing will be held on August 3, 2022 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Himmel's Church, Rebuck. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 am. Interment will take place in the Himmel's Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Himmel's Church, 1941 Schwaben Creek Rd, Rebuck, PA 17867.
James A. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow is in charge of the arrangements.
Yunling Lou, 85, of Pottsville, passed away on July 31, 2022, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Allentown.
A full obituary will appear on Tuesday.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Schlitzer Allen Pugh, 515 W. Market Street, Pottsville.
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