Skook News Obituaries: March 19th, 2024
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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She was born in Mahanoy City, PA to Vincent Zelonis & Mary Buncavage on July 5, 1954. She spent her youth in Mahanoy City, PA and graduated from high school in 1972.
After graduation she enlisted in the US Army on 07/31/1972 and served 20 years as Ret SSG/E-6 LPN Nurse. She was honorably discharged from the US Army on 06/01/1992.
Mary was a member of the American Legion and was the Commander of the 13th District Dept of RA.
She is preceded in death by her parents: Vincent & Mary Zelonis; sister: Josephine; and brother: Vincent.
She is survived by her husband: Robin Titus and sibling Violet.
Services were private.
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Russell H. Fidler, 101, of Wayne Township, passed away Sunday, March 17th, at Providence Place Retirement Community, Pottsville.Born in Wayne Township on July 28, 1922, he was a son of the late Clinton Fidler, Sr. & Annie (Rhine) Fidler.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Esther (Fritz) Fidler, on November 29, 2001.
In addition to his parents and wife, Russell is also preceded in death by his siblings: Guy Fidler, Verna Firestine, E. Marie Fessler, Robert Fidler, & William Krammes.
He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Summer Hill, Auburn.
Russell served in the U.S. Army in WWII. He armed P-40s and P-47s with .50 caliber ammunition. Prior, he had worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps.
He owned and operated Russ Fidler Excavating, and had worked for H.B. Moyer, Inc.
He was a member of Schuylkill Lodge #138, Schuylkill Shrine Club, & Reading Consistory. Russell was a farmer. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed reading.
Russell is survived by two sons: Russell I. Fidler, husband of Sherri, and Jeffrey L. Fidler, husband of Sandra & a daughter, Tina Marie Sutton wife of William, all of Wayne Township; four grandchildren: Jennifer Freeman, Andrew Fidler, Nathan Sutton, Ashley Sutton, two great-grandchildren: Miranda Freeman, & Ethan Fidler, a sister, Beatrice Anderson, & a brother, Clinton Fidler, Jr., both of Orwigsburg.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 27th at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Summer Hill, Auburn with Pastor Marie Meeks officiating. A viewing will be held from 9:30 AM until the time of service at the church. Interment will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
Russell's family wishes to thank everyone that provided him wonderful care at Schoolyard Square, Providence Place Pine Grove, and especially Providence Place, Pottsville. Special thanks to all of his "sweet potatoes".
At the family's request, memorial donations may be forwarded to Shriner's Children's Hospital PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394.
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Loretta was born in Mahanoy Township in 1928 to John and Antoinette Walchak. After graduating from Mahanoy Township High School in 1946, she worked at Gilberton Coal Company as a secretary. There she met her future husband, Nicholas Basheda, and they married in 1957.
Loretta spent most of her career as a secretary at Blue Mountain East Elementary School, working in the district for 25 years until her retirement in 1998. It was a perfect match for her. Throughout her life she stressed the importance of reading and education.
“How are your grades?” was a question she’d often ask. She also had a special bond with the students, offering a kind word or a hug when someone needed it.
She was an avid gardener who succeeded in making everything grow, whether it was tomatoes from her vegetable garden or impatiens that decorated her flower beds. Loretta grew up a Phillies fan and -- with the exception of West Coast late starts -- she dutifully followed all their games on radio or TV. You’d often find her working on a crossword puzzle, and she was so good at word games that she could often solve the puzzles on “Wheel of Fortune” with just a few letters.
Loretta was a parishioner at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Schuylkill Haven and a member of the church choir. After her retirement, she volunteered at the Orwigsburg Free Public Library. She touched all who met her with her kindness and compassion.
She is preceded in death by her husband (2006) along with siblings Frances Walchak, Joseph Walchak and John Walchak. She is survived by a son, Greg Basheda, of Alexandria, VA; daughter Valarie Basheda of Decatur, GA; and three grandchildren: Nick, Christopher and Katharine Markiewicz.
A visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Grabowski Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven, with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Orwigsburg Fee Public Library or an organization of your choice that supports education.
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Born in Pottsville, on May 11, 1945, she was a daughter of the late John and Rita (Hyland) Warner.
She was a 1963 graduate of Nativity BVM High School and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Loretta was a faithful volunteer at church and was especially involved with cooking meals for the Priests and the annual candy making.
Loretta was a kitchen supervisor at the former Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville, for 13 years.
She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and feeding wild animals, but especially attending her grandchildren's functions and sporting events.
In addition to her parents, Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton H. Edwards on January 14, 2018, to whom she was married 53 years; a son, Paul and granddaughter, Victoria.
Loretta is survived by son, Clayton D. Edwards, husband of Michelle, of Windermere, FL; daughter, Marlene M. Hohman, wife of Chris, of Pottsville; grandchildren: Christopher, Hannah, and Abigail; brother, John J. Warner, husband of Diane, of Clifton Park, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 22nd, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home until procession will leave for church.
Interment will follow at the chapel in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Loretta's memory be sent to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or St. Patrick R.C.C. Church Memorial Fund, 319 Mahantongo St. Pottsville, PA 17901.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
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Born on March 18, 1949, in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Samul and Eva (nee Osatchuck) Steffie. She attended Schuylkill Haven schools before earning her GED. A licensed Massage Therapist, she practiced massage therapy and reflexology in both Florida and Pennsylvania.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Greth, in 1994; four siblings, Samuel Steffie, Ann Butler, Kathryn Hage, and Barbara Zimmerman.
Patty is survived by three children, Sherry Lynn Kesler, Manchester, Donald Greth (spouse, Angie), Lovell, NC, and Merita Faye Guldin (spouse, Steve), Donaldson; four grandchildren, Chanelle “Nellie” Greth, John “Johnny” Kesler, Daniel Guldin and Jessica Guldin; eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by seven siblings, Mary Jane Kintzel, Tremont, with whom she resided, Daniel Steffie (spouse, Faye), Reedsville, Robert Steffie, Auburn, Richard Steffie, Pottsville, Cindy Wingle, Mechanicsville, Dale Steffie, Pottsville, and Kim Weist, Suedberg; nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Masonic Lodge, 23 Oak Grove Road, Pine Grove, on Saturday, March 30,2024 from 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. A social gathering will follow until 6:00 P.M. Come join us for an afternoon remembering Patricia through stories, poems, and prayers led by those that were blessed to know her.
Dutcavich Funeral Home has charge.
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Born in Tower City, May 20, 1942, a daughter of the late Harold and Margaret Young Ludwig.
While living in her apartment in Schuylkill Haven, Janice made some lifelong friends who were like family to her, and she could often be found playing bingo with them.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Schaeffer; three sons, Edward, James and Kenneth Schaeffer.
Surviving are sons, Ronald, Robert, Harold and Lester Schaeffer; one brother, Harold Ludwig.
Graveside services will he held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 3:00 pm from the Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City with Pastor Annette Shutt officiating.
The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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Joseph (Joe) was born on June 22, 1944, in Shenandoah, PA, a son of the late Elizabeth L. (Dvorscak) and Edward G. Kubert.
He was a graduate of Mahanoy Area High School class of 1962, achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Bloomsburg State College in 1966, and a Master of Natural Sciences degree from the University of South Dakota in 1972.
Joe took pride in his vegetable garden and sharing its bounty with his neighbors in Hometown. His interest in cooking ranged from pesto pizza to chicken piccata to crème brûlée. For many years, Joe participated in the Black Diamond Writers Group at the Tamaqua Public Library. He enjoyed connecting with people through his steady supply of jokes.
He was a member of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Highland, NY, and previously a member of St. John XXIII Parish, formerly St. Peter and Paul in Tamaqua.
He taught chemistry and physics at Mahanoy Area High School for 18 years before working in Research and Development at Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. in Hometown, until he retired in 2007.
Joe is survived by his loving and devoted wife of more than 54 years, Berdine (Carta) Kubert; two daughters, Sharon (Sascha) Perrins, of Portland, OR, and Kim Kubert, of New York, NY; a son, Jason (Cara) Kubert, of New Paltz, NY; and brother, Edward M. (Juanita) Kubert, of Hometown, PA. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Madison Alexander, Wiley and Junie Perrins, and Wyatt, Xavier, and Felix Kubert; as well as many nieces, nephews, loving in-laws, and dear family friends. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, was his sister Marianne “Daisy” Kubert.
Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 pm, on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home, 300 West Centre Street, Mahanoy City, PA 17948.
A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Father Robert Finlan will take place at 11 am on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. John XXIII Parish, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252. Interment will follow at Sky-View Memorial Park in Hometown.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice, which provided compassionate and caring support for Joe during his final time in Highland, NY, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
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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