Skook News Obituaries: February 6th, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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In 1946 she married the love of her life, the late Carl W. Koch, whom she met at the Lakewood Skating Rink when she was 13 years old. They were married 61 years at the time of his death in 2007.
Born on May 18, 1925, in Mahanoy City, PA, Mary was a daughter of the late George and Mary B. (Coulson) Althoff. A 1943 graduate of Mahanoy City High School, she worked for the former Laros Silk Mill in Bethlehem and retired from the former Sue Frocks, Tamaqua. Mary was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where she had been a dedicated worshiper who had served as a former Eucharistic Assistant and as a pianist for Sunday School. She loved church and being very active in many church activities including the Nell Crafters, Koinonia, the Margaret Banning Bible Class, WELCA, and the Worship and Music committee. Mary was the First Den Mother of Cub Scout Pack #76 which met at Zion Lutheran Church. A loving, caring mother and grandmother, she had a smile for everyone.
Mary is survived by daughter, Carol Dietrich and her husband John of Tamaqua; daughter-in-law, Karen Chappell of Florida; grandson, Jeffrey Springer of Harrisburg, PA; step grandchild, John B. Dietrich of Lansford, PA; great grandchildren, Breanna Johnson of Florida, John Dietrich of Maryland, and Nicole Dietrich of Freeland, PA; great great grandson, Eli Johnson; and several nephews and nieces.
She was predeceased by son, Carl W. Koch, Jr. in 2013 and siblings, Louise Yambor, Betty Goepfert, Lois Musser, George Althoff, stillborns Isabelle Althoff and Charles Althoff, and infant twins, Rose Marie and Ruth Naomi Althoff.
Services will be held at 11 AM on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad Street, Tamaqua with The Rev. Cindy White officiating. Call 10-11 AM on Friday at the funeral home. Interment in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Patterson Street, Tamaqua will follow the services.
Memorial donations in Mary’s name may be made to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 101 N. Greenwood Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
Loretta A. Skubel, 94, of Shenandoah Heights, passed away on Saturday, February 4th, 2023, at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.
Born in Shenandoah on December 8th, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Ann Sullivan.
Loretta was member of the former St. Casimir’s Church and currently Divine Mercy Parish. She also belonged to the Shenandoah Amvets Ladies Auxiliary and the Shenandoah Senior Citizens. She loved cooking and baking, traveling, dancing the polkas, and above all she adored her family and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Besides her parents, Loretta was preceded by her husband, Walter Skubel in 1986, a son, Joseph Skubel in 2017, 5 brothers, Richard, Murph, John and Jimmy Sullivan and Ted DeLowry, 6 sisters, Helen Tomczak, Marie Sullivan, Jodie McAndrew, Sister Loretta Marie Sullivan (IHM), Betty Anderson, and Joann Lockett.
Surviving are 4 daughters, Mary Avolio with husband Frank – Shenandoah Heights, Martha Lewis with husband Ron – Shenandoah Heights, Cindy Skubel with Paul Ogonek – Shenandoah Heights, and Nancy Kelly with husband Michael – Girardville. 3 sisters, Peggy Lockett – Ashland, Ann Opanel – Ringtown, and Annette Spidel – Frackville. 10 grandchildren, Jessica, Joey, Damien, Zachary, Carly, Angela, David, Patrick, Stephen, and Michael, 10 great grandchildren, Sophia, Ann, Hudson, Mac, Myla, Colin, Archer, Joseph, Theo, and Olive who is on the way. Nieces and nephews also survive.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, February 10th from 8 to 10am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc., 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am in Divine Mercy Parish, 218 W. Cherry St, Shenandoah and will be officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian. Interment will follow in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
Constance O. “Connie” Hafer, 91 of Schuylkill Haven, formerly of Pottsville, died Saturday at Providence Place Retirement Community, Pottsville.
She was born June 20, 1931 in Pottsville a daughter of the late Richard B. and Rita Hauptly Schoen.
She was a graduate of Pottsville High School.
Prior to retiring she worked at the former Pomeroy’s Department Store, Pottsville.
Connie was a member of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, Schuylkill Haven, a former member of United Presbyterian Church, Pottsville and the church’s circle 2 group and craft class. A member of Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens, Yorkville Hose Ladies Auxiliary and Pottsville Election Board 7th ward 3rd precinct for 35 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert K. Hafer, on September 29, 2015.
Surviving are her son, Richard M. Hafer and his wife Jody, Pine Grove; a daughter, Bobbi Semerod, Pottsville. 5 grandchildren, Alison Goines and her husband David, Ricki Koch and her husband Warren, Brandon Semerod and his wife Stephanie, Scott Semerod and his wife Rev. Nina Patton-Semerod, Jared Hafer and his wife Megan; 4 great-grandchildren, Luke, Isaac, Hannah and Raelynn; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10AM from the James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, with Rev. Nina Patton-Semerod officiating. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9-10AM Monday at the funeral home. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Connie be made to Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
Carol M. Long, 82 of Pottsville, died Saturday night at Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Schuylkill Haven.
She was born December 2, 1940, in Philadelphia a daughter of the late Walter and Mary Tahaney Gross.
She was a graduate of St. Hubert’s High School, Philadelphia.
Prior to retiring Carol was employed by Temple University Hospital of Sports Medicine, Dr. Luis Visot, Pottsville and Giant Food Store, Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven.
Carol was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, where she learned how to make pierogies and help with the annual golf tournament and many other activities at the church.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert W. Long on September 14, 2016; an infant brother, James David Gross; a sister, Jane Anne Gross;
Surviving are her daughter, Kim Klimaytis, Philadelphia; 2 nieces that where like daughters to her, Peterine Wojick and her husband Jack, Pottsville and Mary Jane Gormley and her husband William, Philadelphia; 3 grandchildren, Paige, Kyle and Tyler; 2 great-grandchildren, Skylar Jane and Phoenix Noel; a stepdaughter, Tracy Klimaytis, Florida.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11AM from St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9-10:30AM Saturday at James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Carol be made to J.J. Wojick Memorial Fund, C/O M&T Bank 1826 W. Market St. Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
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Born in Shenandoah on December 8th, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Ann Sullivan.
Loretta was member of the former St. Casimir’s Church and currently Divine Mercy Parish. She also belonged to the Shenandoah Amvets Ladies Auxiliary and the Shenandoah Senior Citizens. She loved cooking and baking, traveling, dancing the polkas, and above all she adored her family and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Besides her parents, Loretta was preceded by her husband, Walter Skubel in 1986, a son, Joseph Skubel in 2017, 5 brothers, Richard, Murph, John and Jimmy Sullivan and Ted DeLowry, 6 sisters, Helen Tomczak, Marie Sullivan, Jodie McAndrew, Sister Loretta Marie Sullivan (IHM), Betty Anderson, and Joann Lockett.
Surviving are 4 daughters, Mary Avolio with husband Frank – Shenandoah Heights, Martha Lewis with husband Ron – Shenandoah Heights, Cindy Skubel with Paul Ogonek – Shenandoah Heights, and Nancy Kelly with husband Michael – Girardville. 3 sisters, Peggy Lockett – Ashland, Ann Opanel – Ringtown, and Annette Spidel – Frackville. 10 grandchildren, Jessica, Joey, Damien, Zachary, Carly, Angela, David, Patrick, Stephen, and Michael, 10 great grandchildren, Sophia, Ann, Hudson, Mac, Myla, Colin, Archer, Joseph, Theo, and Olive who is on the way. Nieces and nephews also survive.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, February 10th from 8 to 10am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc., 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am in Divine Mercy Parish, 218 W. Cherry St, Shenandoah and will be officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian. Interment will follow in St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
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She was born June 20, 1931 in Pottsville a daughter of the late Richard B. and Rita Hauptly Schoen.
She was a graduate of Pottsville High School.
Prior to retiring she worked at the former Pomeroy’s Department Store, Pottsville.
Connie was a member of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, Schuylkill Haven, a former member of United Presbyterian Church, Pottsville and the church’s circle 2 group and craft class. A member of Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens, Yorkville Hose Ladies Auxiliary and Pottsville Election Board 7th ward 3rd precinct for 35 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert K. Hafer, on September 29, 2015.
Surviving are her son, Richard M. Hafer and his wife Jody, Pine Grove; a daughter, Bobbi Semerod, Pottsville. 5 grandchildren, Alison Goines and her husband David, Ricki Koch and her husband Warren, Brandon Semerod and his wife Stephanie, Scott Semerod and his wife Rev. Nina Patton-Semerod, Jared Hafer and his wife Megan; 4 great-grandchildren, Luke, Isaac, Hannah and Raelynn; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10AM from the James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, with Rev. Nina Patton-Semerod officiating. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9-10AM Monday at the funeral home. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Connie be made to Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
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She was born December 2, 1940, in Philadelphia a daughter of the late Walter and Mary Tahaney Gross.
She was a graduate of St. Hubert’s High School, Philadelphia.
Prior to retiring Carol was employed by Temple University Hospital of Sports Medicine, Dr. Luis Visot, Pottsville and Giant Food Store, Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven.
Carol was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, where she learned how to make pierogies and help with the annual golf tournament and many other activities at the church.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert W. Long on September 14, 2016; an infant brother, James David Gross; a sister, Jane Anne Gross;
Surviving are her daughter, Kim Klimaytis, Philadelphia; 2 nieces that where like daughters to her, Peterine Wojick and her husband Jack, Pottsville and Mary Jane Gormley and her husband William, Philadelphia; 3 grandchildren, Paige, Kyle and Tyler; 2 great-grandchildren, Skylar Jane and Phoenix Noel; a stepdaughter, Tracy Klimaytis, Florida.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11AM from St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9-10:30AM Saturday at James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Carol be made to J.J. Wojick Memorial Fund, C/O M&T Bank 1826 W. Market St. Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
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Hedwig Rodgers, 90, of Centre St., Ashland, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Heritage Mills Personal Care Center, Tower City.
The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, will announce funeral arrangements.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Anthony Urban Law Offices. P.C.
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