Skook News Obituaries: November 28th, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Michael “Larry” Beneshunas, 72, Girardville passed away unexpectedly on Friday evening at his residence.A funeral service with military honors will be held on Friday, December 1st at 11 a.m. at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
Sign the guestbook, leave personal condolences and for further information, please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Girardville is in charge of the arrangements.
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Mae was born in Mahanoy City, PA on February 23, 1947, a daughter of the late Mary (Powell) and George Motsko.
She graduated from Mahanoy Area High School Class of 1965, and worked as a secretary for most of her working career.
Mae was a free lunch volunteer for many years at the New Boston site, and loved to play bingo and crochet.
She was the wife of the late Elmer Davidson.
Mae is survived by three sons Arthur, husband of Natalie Davidson, of Tresckow; Elmer, husband of Trisha Davidson, of Mahanoy City; Jeffery, husband of Martha Davidson, of New Boston; four sisters, Mary Ann, wife of William Cornwell, of Bristol PA. Lucille Palmer, Shirley Gilbert and Donna Siliekus, all of Mahanoy City.
She is also survived by 6 Grandchildren Emily Davidson, Erin Sargent, Chelsea Davidson, Blake Davidson, Marissa Lindenmuth, Jeffery Davidson, and a Great Grandchild Rosalia Espinal-Davidson.
She was preceded in death by brothers George and Carl Motsko.
Funeral Service at Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Mahanoy City, PA at 11 AM on Wednesday, December 6th, with Rev Craig Zimmerman officiating.
Friends and family may call Wednesday 9 to 11 AM.
Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery Mahanoy City, PA.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book, view the tribute video and send sympathy cards.
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Rev. Carl D. Geary, 90, formerly of Wayne Twp., passed away Saturday, November 25th, at Buffalo Valley Skilled Nursing Home, Lewisburg.
Carl was born and raised by late parents, Donald G. and Katharine K. Geary in Harrisburg.He became a member of Stevens Memorial United Methodist Church, Harrisburg at ten years of age in 1943.
Following graduation from John Harris High School, Harrisburg in 1951, he began studies at Elizabethtown College; received "the call" to Christian Ministry during the fall of 1951; sang in the college A Capella choir; graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree in 1955.
Carl was granted a Local Preacher's License in 1953 by the Stevens Memorial United Methodist Church Quarterly Conference.
He was appointed to the Bald Eagle United Methodist Parish (Bald Eagle, Grazierville, Ironsville, and Sandy Ridge churches) in July, 1955.
Carl entered Wesley Theological Seminary, Westminister, MD, in the fall of 1955; graduated with a Bachelor's of Sacred Theology Degree (now a Master of Divinity Degree) in 1958.
He became an ordained Deacon in 1956 and Elder in 1958 through the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference (now the Susquehanna Conference) of the United Methodist Church.
Carl was appointed to the First United Methodist Church, Williamsburg, in July of 1959.
He served as evangelist and/or evangelistic song leader on a number of occasions including local church pastorates, Blackburn United Methodist Church of the Pittsburgh Conference, M.T.C. Camp Meeting at Newton Hamilton, and Annual Conference Commission Evangelistic Missions and Programs.
He was appointed to the Calvary (formerly Grace) United Methodist Church, York, in July of 1964.
Carl attended the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference on Evangelism, Madison, NJ, and Williamsport, PA, for several summers and in 1965 participated in the General Conference on Evangelism of the United Methodist Church at Chicago, IL.
He served as the Harrisburg District Secretary of Evangelism from 1965-1968; served a number of years as the recording secretary of the Conference Town & Country Commission; served several years as the District Secretary on the Conference Commission on Enlistment for Church Occupations.
Carl had the very high honor of leading (what was then) the yearly Love Feast on the concluding Sunday of Annual Conference in 1966.
Upon the recommendation of the late Bishop Newell S. Booth and his Cabinet, following an invitation from the General Board of Evangelism of the United Methodist Church, and the complete support of the Calvary United Methodist Church (York) served as one of thirty evangelists from the United States to the Republic of the Philippines during October, 1967.
Appointed to the Wesley United Methodist Church, Williamsport, in August 1969.
In 1975, completed six years on the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Homes for the Aged, Inc. (Bethany Village, Mechanicsburg, and Epworth Manor, Tyrone). From 1971, served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lewisburg United Methodist Homes, Inc. (eight years as the recording secretary of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and then on the Finance and Investments Committee and the Committee on Publicity and Public Relations). In July of 1982, was honored as a ten year member of the Board of Directors (Lewisburg Homes), completing that service shortly thereafter.
Rev. & Mrs. Geary were sent by the Wesley United Methodist Church (Williamsport) as official representatives to the Continental Congress on the Family held in St. Louis, MO in October, 1975.
He was appointed to the Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, Altoona, PA, in July 1976. While in Altoona he served on the Board of Directors of the City Union of the United Methodist Churches (28 member churches at the time) for five years and as President of the Board of Directors for two years. For two years he served as a representative from the Altoona District to the Urban Work Committee of the Conference Board of Missions.
Carl was appointed as Chaplain at Bethany Village Retirement Center, Mechanicsburg in July, 1981, and Richfield/Mt. Zion United Methodist Charge (Juniata County) in November 1981.
He was appointed to the Fleminton/Trinity, Lock Haven, United Methodist Church (Clinton County) in July, 1984. On October 4, 1987, the Trinity and First United Methodist Churches of Lock Haven united to form one congregation named Covenant United Methodist Curch of Lock Haven. The Flemington Church remained part of the charge; now named Covenant, Lock Haven/Flemington United Methodist Charge. He served on the Williamsport District Council on Ministries as the Williamsport District Moving Coordinator.
Carl was appointed to the Duncannon United Methodist Parish (Perry County, Asbury and Otterbein Churches, in July 1988. He was elected to serve as the New Cumberland District Moving Coordinator until his retirement.
He retired from active ministry June 30, 1996 after 41 years.
He was married to the former Marion Haldeman August 29, 1954. They are the parents of Walter, Hagerstown, MD, James (Sharon), Montgomery, PA, & Paul (Janet) Damascus, MD, grandparents of eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be conducted at First United Methodist Church, Schuylkill Haven, at 11 AM Tuesday, December 5th. A viewing will be held from 10 AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Rolling Green Cemetery, Camp Hill.
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He graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 1969 and was a lauded member of the FFA. He went into landscaping, eventually starting his own business and serving in the US Army Reserves. After losing his leg from an unrelated injury, Stan received an honorable discharge, and was soon called on by members of the borough council to serve in a different way. The borough sent him to the Pennsylvania State Police Academy where he graduated as a stand-out because even with his prosthesis, he met every standard without exception. “Sometimes you come in at a disadvantage, and if it’s worth it, you’ll work hard and be even more valuable for the work you put in.”
Known widely as “Chief” or “Stan the Man,” he served the borough as police chief for 37 of his 40-year career on the force.
He never set out to be a police officer – he always dreamed of being a farmer and worked on many local farms starting at 8 years old.
Yet being a part of the thin blue line was his calling. He poured his whole self into serving and protecting the people who lived in the borough and those passing through. Along the way, he made many friends and a few enemies. “Not everyone will like you, and if they do, you’re probably doing something I wouldn’t be proud of.”
Early in his career, he built the Orwigsburg Police shooting range, which was dedicated in 2020 in his name.
His hobbies were target shooting and reloading, mowing the lawn and working because, “you never work a day in your life if you love what you do.” He also enjoyed old country music and Western movies.
In retirement, he began collecting and fixing antique working tractors without prejudice to color.
He was the son of the late Betty Bolich Brozana and Stanley P. Brozana Sr., and was preceded in death by his younger twin siblings, Sandra and Stephen Brozana.
He was the son of the late Betty Bolich Brozana and Stanley P. Brozana Sr., and was preceded in death by his younger twin siblings, Sandra and Stephen Brozana.
He is survived by his daughter, Amanda Brozana Rios and her husband, Victor Barreto Rios; his nieces Michelle Brozana Zimmerman and Cassandra Brozana Kline. He extended his family by “adopting” as adults Alicia and Bill Keller, Orwigsburg, and their six children – “the grandchildren (he) didn’t know (he) wanted” – including his goddaughter, Haletta; and Grace Boatright, Virginia; as well as officers who worked with him and close friends. “True friends are the most important thing you have to take care of.”
The family invites anyone to take part in a celebration of life from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 at the Orwigsburg Memorial. Bring your best “Stan stories” to tell or in a letter/card – they will be greatly cherished – or you may send them to the family at 1509 Red Dale Road, Orwigsburg PA 17961 or stanbrozana@gmail.com.
Hamilton Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. Orwigsburg, has been entrusted with arrangements.
Italo J. Bonacci, 79, of McAdoo, passed away Saturday at Forest Hills Rehab. and Healthcare Center, Weatherly.
Born in Hazleton, he was the son of the late Italo Bonacci and Mary (Simmons) Bonacci Stepanik, and stepfather Leon Stepanik.
Italo was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Navy and was a member of Church of All Saints, McAdoo.
Prior to retiring, he was employed at Bemis Mfg., Hazleton.
Italo’s passion was powerlifting. He earned many titles and awards over the years.
Surviving, are his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth (Takach) Bonacci; stepsister Lisa Obrzut and husband Andrew, McAdoo, and niece Kristin and nephew Andy; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Davis and husband Jim, New Coxeville, and niece, Heather Habig and husband DJ, York Haven; and sister-in-law, Debra Bouselli, Sugarloaf.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.
The Damiano Funeral Home, Inc., McAdoo, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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Italo J. Bonacci, 79, of McAdoo, passed away Saturday at Forest Hills Rehab. and Healthcare Center, Weatherly.
Born in Hazleton, he was the son of the late Italo Bonacci and Mary (Simmons) Bonacci Stepanik, and stepfather Leon Stepanik.
Italo was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Navy and was a member of Church of All Saints, McAdoo.
Prior to retiring, he was employed at Bemis Mfg., Hazleton.
Italo’s passion was powerlifting. He earned many titles and awards over the years.
Surviving, are his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth (Takach) Bonacci; stepsister Lisa Obrzut and husband Andrew, McAdoo, and niece Kristin and nephew Andy; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Davis and husband Jim, New Coxeville, and niece, Heather Habig and husband DJ, York Haven; and sister-in-law, Debra Bouselli, Sugarloaf.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.
The Damiano Funeral Home, Inc., McAdoo, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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