Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Schuylkill County Obituaries for 07/17/18


Schuylkill County Obituaries for 07/17/18

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Helen E. Krupa, 97, of Pottsville, passed away Sunday evening at her residence, surrounded with love from her daughter and son.

Helen was born in Pottsville, Jan. 22, 1921, to the late Mary and Michael Kosick of Pottsville.

She was the widow of Edward J. Krupa, who died in 2005. In addition, she was preceded in death by her brothers, John, Michael and Frank Kosick.

She was the oldest living member of St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville.

Helen served as staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps/Air Force during World War II. She worked as a photographer and photo lab specialist. She made maps from aerial photographs to train Air Force pilots. A CD and photo exhibit of her military career has been included in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

After her military service, she worked in the garment industry. Helen was a licensed beautician who owned and operated her own beauty salon.

Helen is survived by her children, Barbara Jean Krupa and Edward Bruce Krupa, both of Pottsville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville, with the Rev. Dave Loeper officiating. A viewing for family and friends will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church. The family requests donations to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or Alzheimer's Association , South Central PA Chapter, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Pottsville.

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Girda M. “Gilda” Matz, 96, Pottsville, passed away Monday at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Born in Pottsville, June 10, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Julia (Piccioni) Monti.

She was a graduate of Pottsville High School and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, and a member of the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. She worked as a seamstress at the former Colonial Blouse Factory.

In addition to her parents, Girda was preceded in death by her husband in 1980, the late Michael Matz. She was also preceded in death by a daughter Elizabeth Kemmerling, and sisters Rita Chillemi and Julia Smith.

Girda is survived by four sons, John husband of Marybeth; Richard husband of Debra; Michael husband of Noralea; and Steven and his companion Helen; five daughters, Mary Louise “Cookie” Steiner; Nancy Potts wife of Salem; Patricia Pugh wife of William; Michaeleen “Micky” Murray wife of Alan; and Judith Doyle wife of Fran. She is also survived by a brother, Faust Joseph Monti; two sisters, Vera Miller and Mary Kunisky. She was blessed with 19 grandchildren, Dennis Steiner; Brian Potts; Kurt and Christopher Kemmerling; Sandra, William, Robert and Jamie Pugh; Jacqueline Gordon; Alan Murray; Christy Curtis; Fran Doyle; Megan Czerniak; Kevin, Connor, Zachary, Justin, Shawn and Jill Matz; and gifted with 17 great grandchildren, Eric Steiner; Jared, Alexander, Tyler and Adam Kemmerling; Jordan Mohl; Madelyn and Thomas Gordon; William and Matthew Pugh; Cameron, Abigail, Aaron and Wyatt Curtis; Luke and Emma Matz; Nicolas Buchanan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 PM on Saturday at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville. Monsignor William F. Glosser will be officiating. Family and friends may call Saturday morning from 10 AM until the time of mass at the church. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Hillside.

Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit SchlitzerAllenPugh.com to send a condolence to the Matz family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Girda’s name to the St. Patrick’s Memorial Fund, 319 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.

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Martha E. Zimmerman, 95, of Pine Grove, passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in the Tremont Health & Rehab Center.
Born on October 26, 1922 in Pine Grove Twp., she was a daughter of the late Raymond and Maggie Lengel Schnoke.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Pine Grove.
Martha worked as a presser for 29 yrs at Summit Station Mfg., Pine Grove.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles R. Zimmerman; four brothers, Robert Roeder, Carl Schnoke, Samuel Schnoke and Alfred Schnoke; three sisters, Mary Lutz, Hilda Warner, and Edna Miller.
Surviving are her son Charles and wife Judy Zimmerman; three grandchildren, Michele Hernley, Wendy Wolfe and Steven Zimmerman; 8 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. from St. John's Lutheran Church, 222 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove with SALM John Ziegler officiating. There will be a viewing on Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. -11:00 A.M. at the Church. Interment will follow in the Hetzel's Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 222 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 or Pine Grove Childrens Aid 11 Sparrow Lane, Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences to the family online at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com

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Virginia M. “Virg” Wood, 89, passed away in her home Sunday morning surrounded by her family.

Virg was born in Lost Creek, on June 19, 1929, the first of eight children, to Patrick J. Coyle and Eleanor L. Shearn.

She was a 1946 graduate of the former West Mahanoy Township High School where she was a cheerleader and formed lifelong friendships.

Prior to her marriage to Charles J. “Herbie” Wood, she worked as a secretary for the PP&L and a legal firm. She married Herbie on July 31, 1954, in St. Mary Magdalen’s Church, Lost Creek.

Throughout her life she used her gifts and passions to drive her work, the celebration of holidays and family. Her prowess in the kitchen gathered many to the table and led to the reveal of secret recipes that included ingredients such as “a saucer full of flour.” She enjoyed making things from sewing children’s clothing to creating elaborate Halloween costumes, some so unconventional that final assembly was onsite. Children, grandchildren and anyone who graced her doors were indoctrinated into the world of casual gambling and fierce, yet friendly, competition though Michigan Rummy and various other dice and card games. Prizes ranged from cold hard cash to bragging rights. Frosty Parades, holidays with “food for an army” and family egg hunts (turned community events) will be at the top of the list of fond memories. We will all recall that Maggie (#13 and “the favorite”) ends up with the best gift in the annual Pollyanna as our gambling Grammy knew just how to “fix it” so “her house” would win. Grammy traveled far and wide to be in the stands cheering for her athletes through college in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, field and ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, softball, track and field and volleyball. Her biggest loyalty was to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She looked forward to weekly poker games with her lifelong friends, serving with them to prepare spaghetti dinners for the annual parish block party, and traveling with these same women to ports of call around the globe. Of course, most trip itineraries included “the casinos.” She also helped to organize the Coyle Family Reunions complete with sack races and beer chugging contests. Her planning of parties continued at the head of the table with Irish eyes smiling at the thought of bringing her people together through even her last week of life. When NOT planning the next event, she served as Postmaster of the Lavelle and Lost Creek Post Offices for over 25 years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Charles J “Herbie” Wood; her sister, Bobbie Dooling; and her brother, Frankie Coyle.

She is survived by her five children, Tim Wood, Deer Lake, Jacki and Butch Keithan, Katy, Texas, Joe and Terri Wood, Ringtown, Betsy and Chris Quinn, Roxborough, and Jim Wood, Wilkes-Barre; her 13 grandchildren, Colby Keithan, Chas Keithan, Alli Keithan, Megan Wood, Christopher Quinn, Lauren Wood, Michael Quinn, Tim Wood, Caitlin Wood, Ryan Wood, Brigid Wood, Connor Wood and Maggie Quinn; one great-grandson, Charles R. Keithan; her sisters, Ele McGarvey, Hatboro, Kiki Goodman, Pottsville, Jackie Isherwood, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Janet McDonald, Girardville; her brother, Pat Coyle, North Wales; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was proud of her Irish heritage, we will never look at a shamrock without seeing her face or watch a game involving the Fighting Irish without hearing her voice shouting, “Go Irish!”

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday from Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah. A Mass of Christian Burial will then be celebrated at 10 a.m. in Divine Mercy Church, 232 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah. Monsignor Edward Coyle will be the principal celebrant and homilist and Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor, as concelebrant. Interment will follow in Annunciation BVM Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements

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Blake Broadhurst, 21, Orwigsburg, PA, entered the gates of eternity to his Heavenly Father after a very short but valiant bout with Burkitt’s Lymphoma on Monday, July 16, 2018 at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Blake will be remembered for his love for Jesus and care for others, his kindness and generous heart, his bigger than life antics, his comical facial expressions, his bravery and courage during life’s adversities, his laughter and corky jokes, his love of family and friends, his one liners and movie quotes, his love of Taco Bell and anything spicy, his tall tales through exaggerations, his nicknames he gave to others, and so much more. Blake was well loved by all who knew him and he will be remembered.

In addition to his parents, Preston and Karen Broadhurst, Blake is survived by his older brother Cameron Broadhurst and his wife Natalie of New Ringgold, PA, younger siblings Allison, Raya, Myles, Talia Broadhurst and a foster sister, all at home. Also survived by his grandparents Wayne and Dianne Broadhurst of Detour, MD, Ronald and Meredith Hill of Pine Grove, PA, his birth parents Travis and Tracey of Fleetwood, PA and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and a great-grandmother, all whom loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his Aunt Leah Hill of Pine Grove, PA and infant cousin Graydon Broadhurst of Woodsboro, Maryland.

He was an employee at the Turkey Hill in Blandon, PA. He loved his job, his co-workers and was looking forward to continuing with the business.

Celebration of Blake’s life will take place on Saturday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Kimmels Church, 179 Pine Creek Dr., Orwigsburg, PA with Jonathan Hikes officiating. The celebration will be followed by a potluck picnic. Please join us in remembering Blake by making donations, in lieu of flowers, to Kimmels Church earmarked Operation Christmas Child. In the months to come we’ll be doing a packing party in Blake’s honor as this organization was very near and dear to him.

Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Orwigsburg is honored to be serving the family.

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