Skook News Obituaries: June 10, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
----------------------------------------------------
Phyllis A. Yilek, 64, of Minersville, formerly of Saint Clair, passed away on Sunday, June 4, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.
Born on September 26, 1958, in Providence, RI, she was a daughter of the late Harry Palamar, Jr. and the late Olga (nee Mastor) Palamar. She was a 1976 graduate of Saint Clair High School and worked in local restaurants before enlisting in the Navy in 1981. She trained at Great Lakes as a Navy Hospital Corpsman; serving with the USS McKee, a submarine support ship, and the Balboa Naval Hospital, both at San Diego.
She later worked as a nurse’s aide and was last employed at the Pottsville location of Sheetz until becoming disabled.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Kevin Palamar; her stepmother, Mary Lou Palamar.
Phyllis is survived by her son, Nigel James Yilek, Chandler, AZ; two grandchildren, Emma & Jayden; her sister, Denise Rokosky (spouse, Richard), Marlin; her remaining brother, David Palamar, Saint Clair. She is also survived by her paternal aunt, Harriet Schaeffer, Duncott. Cass Township; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements are incomplete. Please visit this page frequently for updates.
To assist the family with final expenses, please consider making a donation, using the DONATE FUNERAL FUNDS link at the top of this page.
Until final arrangements are announced, please feel free to leave condolences, using the link at the top of this page.
Born in Ashland on January 19, 1950, she was the daughter of the late William Vincent and Elizabeth (Holt) O’Connell.
Helen was a devout member and active volunteer for Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Shenandoah. She was a former member of Divine Mercy Parish and the former Saint Stephen’s Church, Shenandoah.
She was a very religious and pious woman with a great faith. She was a secular Franciscan having belonged to the Holy Dormition Fraternity. Helen greeted everyone with a kind word and a smile.
Helen was a former member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Annunciation, Shenandoah and formerly volunteered for DSI and the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents was her brother, William D. O’Connell.
Surviving are her fiancé, Charles Calise Jr. of Shenandoah; one brother, Robert O’Connell of Macon, Georgia; one sister, Dolores Leahy of the Philadelphia area; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 10:00 am in St. Michael’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 114 South Chestnut Street, Shenandoah with Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Sky-View Memorial Park, Hometown. A viewing will be held on Wednesday morning from 9:00 am until 10:00 am at the church.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to St. Michael’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 114 South Chestnut Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
