Skook News Obituaries: December 21, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Black Heath (Cass Township), PA on May 10, 1948, he was a son of the late John and Helen (Buryk) Kost.
He was a 1968 graduate of Minersville High School and a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church, Minersville.
Mike was a self-employed contractor and co-owner of KAP Contracting for many years, retiring in 2012. In his earlier years, he enjoyed family card nights, hunting, fishing, trap-shooting at Big Hill Gun Club. He also enjoyed going to the casinos, his favorite being Atlantic City.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Helen DiSarro and brothers: John, Joseph, and Eugene Kost.
Mike is survived by his wife, D. Susan (Lord), to whom he was married 32 years; a daughter, Amanda S. Culbert, wife of Eric, of Brier City; a son, Michael J. Kost, of Brier City; grandchildren: Ethan, Aiden, and Emma Culbert; sister Dolores Novack, wife of Michael, of West West Terrace; sister-in-law, Donna Mitchell, wife of Joseph, of Pottsville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Requiem Divine Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St.Nicholas Ukrainian Church, 415 N. Front St., Minersville, with Rev. Mark Fesniak officiating.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service in the church.
The family requests contributions in Mike’s memory be made to: American Lung Association National Direct Response, PO Box 756, Osceola, WI, 54020-075. Contributions can also be made to the family to offset medical costs incurred.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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Born on September 3, 1951 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Clyde Ehlinger and Ethel Sharp Santai.
She was a 1969 graduate of Nativity High School.
Janice was a Medical Secretary and worked at the former Good Samaritan Hospital and Dental Clinic in Pottsville.
She was a member of the Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Tremont, where she was previously the Director of Religious Education and a Eucharistic Minister.
She loved her family, the beach and a good glass of wine. In her retirement, she was a babysitter for her beloved grandson, Zachary; & two great-nephews, Wyatt and Lane Malis; the three of whom were her greatest joy.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by a daughter, Shannon Torola and a sister, Emmagene Wagner.
Surviving are her husband of 38 years, Stephen T. Torola; two children, Stephen S. and wife Genia Torola of Orwigsburg, Ethel Mae and husband Zachary J. Rohland of Pine Grove; four grandchildren, Mikayla, McKenzie, and Mika Torola, and Zachary S. Rohland; two sisters, Sharon Ehlinger Bradley of Deerfield Beach, FL, Theresa and husband Glenn Gaffney of Pine Grove; three brothers, Bertrum and wife Diane Ehlinger of Minersville, Edward Santai, Matthew and wife Linda Santai, both of Pottsville; nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Father Barnabas Shayo officiating. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 from 11:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to either the Pine Grove Ambulance Association, P. O. Box 125, Pine Grove, PA 17963, or the Tremont Area Ambulance Association, 49 North St., Tremont, PA 17981 in her memory and gratitude.
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Born on February 26, 1960 in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Herbert and Esther Spencer Smith.
Garry was a SGT in the Army National Guard and served with Co B 228th Supply and Transportation BN in Pine Grove.
Garry was a Heavy Equipment Operator at worked at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.
He was a member of the Suedberg Church of God, Pine Grove and the Pine Grove Fish & Game.
Surviving are his wife, Debra Smith; son, Ryan G. Smith; a daughter, Amber L. Smith; a grandson, Garry Thomas Smith; a brother, Barry Smith, all of Pine Grove..
Services will be determined at a later date.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements
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Born on January 15, 1948, in Heckscherville, Cass Township, she was a daughter of the late Harold and Margaret (nee O’Brien) Callaghan. She was a 1965 graduate of Nativity B.V.M. High School and a graduate of Empire Beauty School. In addition to her career in cosmetology, she was a paraprofessional at the South Vo-Tech School, Mar-Lin. She also drove school bus for Renninger Transportation Company, Newtown.
She was a member of Holy Family Parish, Minersville. She was also a CCD instructor at the former St. Vincent dep Paul Church. Fran was active in the Ladies' Ancient Order of Hibernians, Heckscherville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret “Peggy” Campion.
Fran is survived by her husband of 53 years, Paul R. Hertz; her three children, Paul R. Hertz, (spouse, Colleen), Jonestown, Cass Township, Ronald Hertz (spouse, Tammy), Mechanicsville, and Joslyn McKenna (spouse, Jeffrey), Harleysville; four grandchildren, Paul Hertz and Lauren Hertz, Christopher McKenna and Alexis McKenna. She is also survived by her remaining sister, Collen Wentz (spouse, Joseph), Etters; nieces and nephews.
The family will accept visitors at Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury Street, Minersville, on Tuesday, December 26 from 6:00 P.M. and on Wednesday from 6:00 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. when procession will form. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 539 Sunbury Street, Minersville. Interment will be at the convenience of the family at a later date. The family prefers donations to Holy Family Parish, 542 Sunbury Street, Minersville.
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