Skook News Obituaries: July 25, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Lewistown Valley on March 27, 1922, Paul was a son of the late Webster J. and Irene (Wolfe) Wagner. A 1940 graduate of the former Blythe Township School, he was a dairy farmer and the owner of a retail milk store in the Lewistown Valley. Paul was member of the PA Farmers Association, Little Schuylkill Lions Club, and a life member of both the Lewistown Valley Grange and the Lewistown Valley Fire Company. He was also a member of Zion Church Lewistown Valley and the Schuylkill Camp East Gideons. Paul served on the Tamaqua School Board, drove a school van for Felty Transportation, and after retiring delivered meals for the Meals on Wheels program. He enjoyed playing cards and spending time with his family that he loved.
Paul is survived by daughters, Diane Yvonne Malay and her husband John of Lewistown Valley, Jacqueline L. Lynn and her husband Stephen of Mohrsville, PA, Vicki D. Feliciano and her husband Robert of Lewistown Valley, and Wendy D. Shlanta and her husband Peter of Lewistown Valley; son, Craig P. Wagner and his wife Karen of Lewistown Valley; grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, Stephanie, Bradley, Charlene, Alexandra, Julianna, Elizabeth, and Peter; great grandchildren, Jack III, Katie, Rowan, Eden, Rylan, Regan, Gavin, Evan, and another great grandchild whose arrival is expected soon; sister, Beryl M. Donohue of Tamaqua; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a sister, Mary I. Hall and a brother, Kenneth E. Wagner.
Services will be held at 11 AM on Friday, July 28, 2023, at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua, with Pastor Jim Williams officiating. Interment in Zion Church Lewistown Valley Cemetery will follow services. Call Thursday 6-8 PM and Friday 10-11 AM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Zion Church Lewistown Valley, 489 Valley Road, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
Betty J. Hill Keenan, 96, of Orwigsburg, passed away Sunday, July 23, at Seton Manor, Orwigsburg.
Born Sept. 6, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Verda Reber.
She was the widow of William H. Hill.
Betty was also preceded in death by brothers, Darwin, Robert, Reynold and Russ Reber.
She was a graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School, and was a member of Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Schuylkill Haven.
Betty was formerly employed by Walk-In Shoe Co., Cleland's Furnishings, the Highway Dept., Betty's Little Miss Dress Shop, Earth Harmony Real Estate as a Realtor/broker, Bartush Signs and Rohrer Knitting Mill.
Betty is survived by sons, Timothy Hill and significant other, Linda, Orwigsburg, and William Hill and wife, Lynn, Gettysburg; and grandchildren, Gretta Lubet Snukis-Hill, Kelly and Stephanie Hill.
Funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Geschwindt-Stabingas Ebling Funeral Home Inc., Schuylkill Haven. There is no calling hour prior to the start of the service.
Interment will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
Mary E. Miller, beloved wife, mother grandparent, 76 years of age, of East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at St. Luke's Hospice in Bethlehem.
Born Monday, October 21, 1946 in Bethlehem, the daughter of the late Ralph, and Lorraine (Pfeiffer) Minnich.
Surviving are; her husband of 55 years, Kenneth C. Miller Sr.; son, Kenneth C. Miller, Jr. and his companion Tina Brotzman of Lansford; daughter, Kim Vollmer wife of Gary of Alexandria, VA; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; sisters, Betty Scott, and Debbie Donald.
A graduate of Nazareth High School, Mary was a homemaker, and longtime member of Christ Evangelical Free Church of Lehighton. Mary, and Kenneth resided in Andreas, Pennsylvania for many years. Mary enjoyed watching daytime soap operas, and doing puzzle books. Mary was a talented cook, and baker.
Arrangements entrusted to the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 2066 West Penn Pike New Ringgold, Pennsylvania 17960. (570) 386-5884
Charlotte Agnes (Merook) Kowalski, 98 formerly of South West Street, Shenandoah passed away on Monday night, July 24, 2023 at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.
Born in St. Nicholas on February 11, 1925 she was the eight of ten children born to the late Anthony and Sophie (Baranach) Mruk (Merook).
“Cass” or “Cassie” as she was known was a 1942 graduate of the former Mahanoy Township High School, Mahanoy City. She played basketball and was the first in her family to graduate from high school.
On June 12, 1948 in the former Saint Casimir Church, Mahanoy City, she married Louis J. Kowalski, Sr. who preceded her in death on December 14, 1992.
Cass was employed throughout her life in the local Shenandoah garment industry even while raising her children. She worked in the same dress factory on East Coal Street for over 40 years even though ownership changed hands and the factory changed names several times. She started in the former Spoont Dress Factory and retired from the former Alma Dress Factory.
Charlotte was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah and was a devout member of the former St. Stanislaus Church, Shenandoah and volunteered much time with various church functions especially the annual summer bazaars. She was also a member of the ILGWU and a former member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens.
After she retired from the dress factory and her husband passed, Charlotte remained quite busy for the next thirty years. She enjoyed going to bingo multiple nights of the week using the excuse that she was supporting the local churches and school. She also enjoyed the many trips, both day and night that she made to the Atlantic City casinos and later, the local casinos in Pennsylvania. She never drove, but made many daily trips “uptown” to the local restaurants and stores and was always “hoping a bus” to the malls in Frackville and Pottsville. But the role she was most active in and most enjoyed during that time was that of grandmother; running the spectrum from changing diapers for the “patch kids” to watching her school aged “valley boys” daily. She never truly retired until the last few years of her life as it was a forced retirement due to physical limitations. Charlotte lived a long and happy life; God blessed her many years with good health of mind and body until the latter failed in her most recent years.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband of 44 years were six brothers, John, Stanley “Stiney”, Edward, Andrew, Frank “Fritz” and an infant two days after birth, Joseph; three sisters, Veronica Noonan, Mary “Mame” Michalik and Irene “Renie” Mervine.
Surviving are one son, Louis J. Kowalski, Jr. and his wife Donna of Ringtown; two daughters, Kathleen A. Jones and her husband Capas of Rosewell, Georgia and Cynthia A. Loughlin and her husband, Dennis of Morea; her dear friend and caregiver, her daughter at heart, Mary Ann Borusky and her husband Leonard of Catawissa; eight grandchildren, Christopher Kowalski, Kevin Kowalski, Keith Kowalski, Damian Jones, Michael Jones, Kimberly Loughlin, Katie Loughlin and Kyle Loughlin; six great-grandchildren, Dylan, Evan, Avery, Brody, Oliver and Bryson; nieces, nephews and their families.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 12:30 pm in St. Casimir’s Church, 229 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah. Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. Relatives and friends may call on Saturday morning from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon at Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Father Walter Ciszek Chapel Fund, c/o 108 West Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976 of the Fr. Walter Ciszek Prayer League, c/o 18 East Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. She was very close to the Ciszek family especially Fr. Walter when he made visits home to South West Street as they were backyard neighbors and spent many hours in each other’s homes.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
Melinda J Ondo, age 51, of Forestville, passed away Monday, July 24, 2023 at her residence.
She was born on Sunday, May 7, 1972, in Pottsville, a daughter of Patricia A (Morgan) Neumeister of Pine Grove and the late Frank M Neumeister.
She was a 1990 graduate of Tri-Valley High School.
Melinda had twenty-six years of experience as a certified nursing assistant for various nursing homes and staffing agencies; with the last seventeen years caring for hospice patients as an employee of Pinnacle Health Hospice and Compassionate Care Hospice. She was also a waitress for many years at the Blu Tavern Restaurant.
Melinda dutifully cared for her mother and father in their home for several years before her father's passing; then cared for her mother in her own home for four years prior to Melinda's illness.
Melinda was a kind, caring, and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She could turn a stranger into a friend in minutes with her inviting smile and engaging personality. Her kind heart was always finding a way to help anyone who she thought needed a lift.
Her creative craft and decorating skills were legendary. She could create something uniquely hers or make an exact replica just from sight. She also had a knack for placing decorations in just the right way to make her house a cozy home.
Melinda enjoyed quilting, wool rug hooking, sewing, expertly doing jigsaw puzzles with her mom, bargain shopping with her best buds Mary and Kristy, seashell searching, and walking along Surfside Beach SC with Ron, or just sitting on her back porch enjoying the quiet sounds of nature. She also cherished the time she spent making and selling handmade jewelry with her daughter Marissa.
Her cooking and baking skills were also unrivaled. If it was "homemade" from Mel's kitchen, you knew it would be delicious.
She is survived by her husband Ronald S Ondo, to whom she was married for 23 years.
She is also survived by her mother, Patricia A Neumeister of Pine Grove; a daughter, Marissa R Cook and her companion Jim Boris of Forestville; a brother, John M Neumeister of Springfield, TN, and one other brother and three sisters; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her Nanny's best friend, her dog Nollie..
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc, Valley View, with Rev. Jeremy Smallwood officiating.
Burial will be in Church of Christ in Christian Union Cemetery, Weishample.
Pauline Tenenholz, 92, of Poughkeepsie, NY, and formerly of Pottsville, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon in Lutheran Center at Poughkeepsie, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Born in Philadelphia, on April 24, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Dora (Bertman) Balefsky.
She attended Temple University.
Pauline was a member of Oheb Zedeck Synagogue, Pottsville, where she also worked as the church secretary for over 10 years.
In addition to her parents, Pauline was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin M., on October 4, 2013, and to whom she was married 58 years; daughter, Beverly A. Tenenholz; and brother, Irving Balefsky.
Pauline is survived by: two daughters, Bonnie Mindy Geld, wife of David, of Crofton, MD, and Dena Gail Cohen, wife of Steve, of Poughkeepsie, NY; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 28th, at 10:00 a.m. at Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Pauline's memory be sent to the: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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Born Sept. 6, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Verda Reber.
She was the widow of William H. Hill.
Betty was also preceded in death by brothers, Darwin, Robert, Reynold and Russ Reber.
She was a graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School, and was a member of Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Schuylkill Haven.
Betty was formerly employed by Walk-In Shoe Co., Cleland's Furnishings, the Highway Dept., Betty's Little Miss Dress Shop, Earth Harmony Real Estate as a Realtor/broker, Bartush Signs and Rohrer Knitting Mill.
Betty is survived by sons, Timothy Hill and significant other, Linda, Orwigsburg, and William Hill and wife, Lynn, Gettysburg; and grandchildren, Gretta Lubet Snukis-Hill, Kelly and Stephanie Hill.
Funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Geschwindt-Stabingas Ebling Funeral Home Inc., Schuylkill Haven. There is no calling hour prior to the start of the service.
Interment will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
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Born Monday, October 21, 1946 in Bethlehem, the daughter of the late Ralph, and Lorraine (Pfeiffer) Minnich.
Surviving are; her husband of 55 years, Kenneth C. Miller Sr.; son, Kenneth C. Miller, Jr. and his companion Tina Brotzman of Lansford; daughter, Kim Vollmer wife of Gary of Alexandria, VA; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; sisters, Betty Scott, and Debbie Donald.
A graduate of Nazareth High School, Mary was a homemaker, and longtime member of Christ Evangelical Free Church of Lehighton. Mary, and Kenneth resided in Andreas, Pennsylvania for many years. Mary enjoyed watching daytime soap operas, and doing puzzle books. Mary was a talented cook, and baker.
Arrangements entrusted to the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 2066 West Penn Pike New Ringgold, Pennsylvania 17960. (570) 386-5884
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Born in St. Nicholas on February 11, 1925 she was the eight of ten children born to the late Anthony and Sophie (Baranach) Mruk (Merook).
“Cass” or “Cassie” as she was known was a 1942 graduate of the former Mahanoy Township High School, Mahanoy City. She played basketball and was the first in her family to graduate from high school.
On June 12, 1948 in the former Saint Casimir Church, Mahanoy City, she married Louis J. Kowalski, Sr. who preceded her in death on December 14, 1992.
Cass was employed throughout her life in the local Shenandoah garment industry even while raising her children. She worked in the same dress factory on East Coal Street for over 40 years even though ownership changed hands and the factory changed names several times. She started in the former Spoont Dress Factory and retired from the former Alma Dress Factory.
Charlotte was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah and was a devout member of the former St. Stanislaus Church, Shenandoah and volunteered much time with various church functions especially the annual summer bazaars. She was also a member of the ILGWU and a former member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens.
After she retired from the dress factory and her husband passed, Charlotte remained quite busy for the next thirty years. She enjoyed going to bingo multiple nights of the week using the excuse that she was supporting the local churches and school. She also enjoyed the many trips, both day and night that she made to the Atlantic City casinos and later, the local casinos in Pennsylvania. She never drove, but made many daily trips “uptown” to the local restaurants and stores and was always “hoping a bus” to the malls in Frackville and Pottsville. But the role she was most active in and most enjoyed during that time was that of grandmother; running the spectrum from changing diapers for the “patch kids” to watching her school aged “valley boys” daily. She never truly retired until the last few years of her life as it was a forced retirement due to physical limitations. Charlotte lived a long and happy life; God blessed her many years with good health of mind and body until the latter failed in her most recent years.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband of 44 years were six brothers, John, Stanley “Stiney”, Edward, Andrew, Frank “Fritz” and an infant two days after birth, Joseph; three sisters, Veronica Noonan, Mary “Mame” Michalik and Irene “Renie” Mervine.
Surviving are one son, Louis J. Kowalski, Jr. and his wife Donna of Ringtown; two daughters, Kathleen A. Jones and her husband Capas of Rosewell, Georgia and Cynthia A. Loughlin and her husband, Dennis of Morea; her dear friend and caregiver, her daughter at heart, Mary Ann Borusky and her husband Leonard of Catawissa; eight grandchildren, Christopher Kowalski, Kevin Kowalski, Keith Kowalski, Damian Jones, Michael Jones, Kimberly Loughlin, Katie Loughlin and Kyle Loughlin; six great-grandchildren, Dylan, Evan, Avery, Brody, Oliver and Bryson; nieces, nephews and their families.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 12:30 pm in St. Casimir’s Church, 229 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah. Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. Relatives and friends may call on Saturday morning from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon at Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Father Walter Ciszek Chapel Fund, c/o 108 West Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976 of the Fr. Walter Ciszek Prayer League, c/o 18 East Oak Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. She was very close to the Ciszek family especially Fr. Walter when he made visits home to South West Street as they were backyard neighbors and spent many hours in each other’s homes.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah is in care of the arrangements.
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She was born on Sunday, May 7, 1972, in Pottsville, a daughter of Patricia A (Morgan) Neumeister of Pine Grove and the late Frank M Neumeister.
She was a 1990 graduate of Tri-Valley High School.
Melinda had twenty-six years of experience as a certified nursing assistant for various nursing homes and staffing agencies; with the last seventeen years caring for hospice patients as an employee of Pinnacle Health Hospice and Compassionate Care Hospice. She was also a waitress for many years at the Blu Tavern Restaurant.
Melinda dutifully cared for her mother and father in their home for several years before her father's passing; then cared for her mother in her own home for four years prior to Melinda's illness.
Melinda was a kind, caring, and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She could turn a stranger into a friend in minutes with her inviting smile and engaging personality. Her kind heart was always finding a way to help anyone who she thought needed a lift.
Her creative craft and decorating skills were legendary. She could create something uniquely hers or make an exact replica just from sight. She also had a knack for placing decorations in just the right way to make her house a cozy home.
Melinda enjoyed quilting, wool rug hooking, sewing, expertly doing jigsaw puzzles with her mom, bargain shopping with her best buds Mary and Kristy, seashell searching, and walking along Surfside Beach SC with Ron, or just sitting on her back porch enjoying the quiet sounds of nature. She also cherished the time she spent making and selling handmade jewelry with her daughter Marissa.
Her cooking and baking skills were also unrivaled. If it was "homemade" from Mel's kitchen, you knew it would be delicious.
She is survived by her husband Ronald S Ondo, to whom she was married for 23 years.
She is also survived by her mother, Patricia A Neumeister of Pine Grove; a daughter, Marissa R Cook and her companion Jim Boris of Forestville; a brother, John M Neumeister of Springfield, TN, and one other brother and three sisters; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her Nanny's best friend, her dog Nollie..
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc, Valley View, with Rev. Jeremy Smallwood officiating.
Burial will be in Church of Christ in Christian Union Cemetery, Weishample.
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Born in Philadelphia, on April 24, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Dora (Bertman) Balefsky.
She attended Temple University.
Pauline was a member of Oheb Zedeck Synagogue, Pottsville, where she also worked as the church secretary for over 10 years.
In addition to her parents, Pauline was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin M., on October 4, 2013, and to whom she was married 58 years; daughter, Beverly A. Tenenholz; and brother, Irving Balefsky.
Pauline is survived by: two daughters, Bonnie Mindy Geld, wife of David, of Crofton, MD, and Dena Gail Cohen, wife of Steve, of Poughkeepsie, NY; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 28th, at 10:00 a.m. at Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Pauline's memory be sent to the: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Anthony Urban Law Offices. P.C.