Schuylkill County Obituaries for August 17th, 2022

                                                                                                                       

Skook News Obituaries: August 17th, 2022

Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area. 

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Michele Barr, 44, of Minersville, passed away on Tuesday at home.

Born in Pottsville, she was a daughter of Marlene Mabry Harris, Forestville, and the late Russell Hummel, Jr.

She was a graduate of Minersville High School and studied at both the former McCann School of Business and the North Campus of Schuylkill Technology Centers. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse, working in several local skilled nursing facilities, including Manor Care and Tremont Nursing Center. She was employed at Luther Ridge before becoming disabled.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a sister, Jennifer A. Hummel-Kruies.

In addition to her mother, Michele is survived by her husband of 24 years, Shawn A. Barr; six siblings, Anna Heffner, Pottsville, Catherine Sausser (spouse Michael), Friedensburg, Russell Hummel (spouse, Carol), Minersville, Kathleen Roshannon (spouse, John), Minersville, Pamela Maley, Pottsville, and Angie Mazurkevich (spouse, Tony), Mount Carmel; nieces and nephews.

Dutcavich Funeral Home has charge. Arrangements are incomplete. Please check this page frequently for updates. Visit www.dutcavich.com.

Contributions will be accepted at the funeral home or by using the DONATE FUNERAL FUNDS link at the top of this obituary page. Contributions will be used according to the family’s needs.

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June Tiley Krell, 90, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 16, 2022 at Maple Shade Meadows Assisted Living Facility in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, surrounded by a steady stream of her many family members and friends. She was the widow of the late Donald E. Krell. Sr., her husband of 62 years, who preceded her in death in 2012. She was born in Clamtown, PA, the youngest child of the late Raymond J. Tiley and Ida (Koenig) Tiley. June had two older brothers, Warren Tiley, late of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and Carl Tiley, late of Miami, Florida. June spent most of her life in Tamaqua and was a 1950 graduate of Tamaqua High School. She worked for a number of years at both the Atlas Powder Company and Leiby’s Restaurant. June demonstrated her artistic talent very early in her childhood. She became well-known in the Tamaqua area and beyond, specializing in multiple media but first recognized for her woodburned works that were a collaborative effort with her late husband. After his passing, she continued with her woodburning art, but migrated principally to acrylic paintings of her travel adventures, Tamaqua scenes, and her family and friends. She has won awards at juried art shows and held several single artist exhibitions in the area. June was as passionate about travel as her artwork and enjoyed trips with her children throughout the US and Europe in her later years. June’s greatest passion, however, was caring for her family, which she placed above all else. She will be sorely missed by those whose lives have forever been impacted by the many examples of her kindness and caring.

Surviving are three daughters, Donna Litvinas, wife of Clement Litvinas, June Krell-Salgado, wife of Carlos Salgado, and Diane Krell, wife of John Boyce; two sons, Donald Jr., and his wife, Jessica, and Roy, and his wife, Linda-Sue; 11 grandchildren, Benjamin Litvinas, Donna and Vanessa Salgado, Rachel Krell Karcher, Sarah, Edward, Henry, Abraham and Grace Krell, and Emma and Maxwell Boyce; and her great-granddaughter, Sadie, daughter of Rachel and Carson Karcher.

The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to her nurses and caregivers at Maple Shade Meadows, Dr. Craig Krause, and the caring staff of the Ascend Hospice.

Private arrangements entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 655 East Broad St. Tamaqua. Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation (PHRF), PO Box 6257, Plymouth, MA 02362 or www.pitthopkins.org to help fund research for a cure for a rare condition her granddaughter was born with.

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Emil C. Rizzi, 91, of Minersville, passed away Monday evening .

Born in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Emil and Romilda Dallago Rizzi.

He was a graduate of the former Cass Twp. High School and the McCann School of Business. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Minersville and was a member of St. Michael’s Church of Holy Family Parish, Minersville.

Emil was a former mayor of Minersville. He was a member of American Legion Post 544, Minersville, the Sunny Rod Gun Club, the Goodwill Fire Co., Minersville and the former Catholic War Vets, Pottsville.

He was preceded in death by his wife Madeline in 2014; a son Joseph M. Rizzi; a daughter-in-law Lisa Rizzi; 3 brothers, Francis, John and Joseph; and 4 sisters, Amelia Koscil, Dorothy Foran, Marie Steranko and Elizabeth Andrusisian.

He is survived by his son Emil, Minersville; a sister Catherine Bulino, St. Clair; nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be Monday at 10AM from the Donald J. Butler Funeral Home, 328 Sunbury St., Minersville. Relatives and friends can call at the funeral home on Monday from 8AM until the time of the service. Interment with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

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Melvin William Vidal Sr., 80, of Pottsville, passed away peacefully Thursday August 4, 2022 at Geisinger St Luke’s Hospital, Orwigsburg surrounded by his loved ones. 

Born Jan. 1, 1942, in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Emanuel Vidal and Gertrude (Keich) Vidal-Deiter. He was raised in Pottsville and attended Pottsville area schools. He later joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a longtime member of the former St. Joseph’s R.C.C, Pottsville and currently a member of St. Patrick’s R.C.C, Pottsville. In addition to his parents, Melvin was preceded in death by his four brothers, Raymond Vidal, Emanuel Vidal Jr., Clarence Vidal, Robert Vidal; and four sisters Melva Bertolini, Josephine Zimmerman, Edith Vitullo, Shirley Adams. He was a dedicated, hardworking man who possessed many skills and talents in the trades. He was a former employee of Armond Aquatech Pools Inc., Bridgeport, PA where he worked as a foreman on pool construction projects throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Later he went on to work for the Diocese of Allentown for twenty-six years until his retirement. He was a history enthusiast and would often spend time at Gettysburg and Valley Forge. He enjoyed current events and a good debate. He was fond of attending local sporting events, fishing with his friends and family and all forms of outdoor activity. He was well known to his family and friends for being quick to assist with any problems or projects that came along. Most of all his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren whom he loved dearly and took the most pride in. 

Melvin is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Marlene R. (Piccioni) Vidal, three sons; Melvin Vidal Jr., husband of Lori (Andrews) Devlin of Frackville, Anthony Vidal, husband of Maggie (Kerns) Vidal, of Palo Alto, and Andrew Vidal, husband of Lori (Lutsky) Vidal, of Port Carbon and two daughters; Lori (Vidal) Reedy, wife of Edward Pottsville and Kristine (Vidal) Marx, wife of Jeffrey, of Port Carbon. He also had ten grandchildren; Sean Vidal, husband of Katie (Watson) Vidal, Alea Vidal, Bethany Reedy, Trinity Reedy, Izabella Reedy, Kelsey Marx, Joshua Marx, Noah Marx, Evan Vidal, Camryn Vidal, two great-grandchildren; Connor Vidal and Faye Vidal, and several nieces and nephews. 

He is also survived by his youngest brother, Ronald Deitrich, Tamaqua. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Saturday , August 27, at the Church of St. Patrick, Pottsville with Father Edward Connolly as celebrant. There is no visitation. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville. 

Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

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Dorothy Lucille Blazer, age 95, lifetime resident of Hegins, passed away Friday August 12. She spent the last year of her life in Virginia in her daughter Cherie’s care and passed with family by her side. She was born on March 31, 1927, in Hegins, the youngest daughter of Harrison and Ethel (Maurer) Willier.

Dorothy graduated from then Hegins Township High School in 1944. Blessed with a beautiful soprano singing voice, she moved to Philadelphia to study music and apply to the Curtis Institute. While wartime and financial considerations detoured this dream, she graced her church and special family occasions with song all the rest of her life.

Her parents moved briefly to State College during her high school years. When she returned a few years later to this community, she met her future husband. She married Harold Leroy Blazer of State College June of 1948 and they celebrated 63 years of marriage prior to Harold’s passing in 2011.

A few years after their marriage, Harold and Dorothy took over her parents’ farm on Orchard Road in Hegins. They fostered the young orchard that had been planted there, expanding it over the years and creating a successful orchard, farm, farm market and bakery which they, each of their children, as well as Dorothy’s parents built as a close-knit family enterprise. Dorothy’s greatest sources of pride were the growth and success of Blazer Orchards and the children she and Harold raised there.

In addition to Harold, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Alfred Willier; sister Elizabeth Smeltz; and daughter Lori Lee, who passed in 1965. She is survived by children Dr. Bonnie Blazer Yost (Robert); Dr. Vicki Blazer; Keith Blazer (Nancy); Kurt Blazer; and Cherie Blazer Troisi (Robert)--as well as 6 grandchildren: Steven, Laurie, Christopher, Benjamin, Michelle, and Alexandra, and 5 great grandchildren: Gavin, Hudson, Finn, Sawyer, and Bonnie-Ann.

She was a lifetime member of Friedens United Church of Christ, Hegins, where she was active in the church choir for decades. After retiring, Dorothy and Harold realized a long-standing dream of traveling the world on various trips, cruises, and visits with children who were living abroad during their careers.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Friedens United Church of Christ, 522 East Chestnut Street Hegins 17983 on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:00 am, with Rev. Michael Klahr officiating.

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These obituaries are being  brought to by Anthony Urban Law Offices. P.C.

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