Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Pottsville, on Nov. 30, 1952, she was a daughter of the late Robert N. and Paulette E. (Eroh) Fox.
Pamela was a graduate of Pottsville High School and Kutztown University.
Having worked as an elementary teacher, she retired from John S. Clarke Elementary Center, Pottsville. Upon her retirement from teaching, she pursued a hobby as an avid jewelry maker.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville.
Pamela was preceded in death by her brother, Pete Fox.
She was the beloved wife of Joseph Purcell.
In addition to her husband, she is also survived by a son, Sean Purcell, of Conshohocken; a daughter, Katie, wife of Juan Prado, of Phoenix, Ariz.; a grandson, Jasper Prado; a brother, Robert, husband of Darlene Fox, of Pottsville; nieces, Rebecca Caplan and Ashley Russo; a nephew, Joseph Brier.
A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Cressona. A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Interment will be privately held. At the family's request, memorial donations in Pamela's memory may be forwarded to Hillside SPCA, P.O. Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901.
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Born on July 29, 1945 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Frederick “Fritz” Antonini and the late Mary Hutzel Antonini. She was a 1964 graduate of Cass Township High School. She worked as a secretary in the Pennsylvania Senate before raising her family.
She was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Minersville. She volunteered her time at St. Nicholas Catering, making halupki or as event staff. She also helped making pierogi at Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mount Carmel.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, James “Red” Purcell, in 2013; a son, David G. Purcell, in 1997; her sister, Carolyn Sullivan, in 2018.
She is survived by two children, Francis Purcell (spouse, Denise) and Patricia Machita (spouse, Michael), both of Cass Township; four grandchildren, Levi Jacob Purcell, Emily Rose Purcell, Nathaniel and Rebecca Machita; nieces; nephews; and numerous adopted “grandchildren” among family and friends.
Services are private. Interment will be in Mount Peace Cemetery, Branch Township. The family prefers contributions to Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, PO Box 332, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 or by visiting www.rsmspca.org.
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Geraldine “Gerry Zuber” Zubowicz, 83 of Shenandoah passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Providence Place Senior Living, Pine Grove.
Born in Shenandoah on August 23, 1938, she was a daughter of the late John and Loretta (Radzai) Mikita.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a secretary for Shenandoah Valley High School for thirty-four years.
Gerry was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah and the former Saint Stanislaus Church. She was also a member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents were her husband, Clarence M. Zubowicz in 2002 and her sister Jacqueline Nealon in 1990.
Surviving are her daughter, Sherry Squierdo and her husband Thomas of Pine Grove, her granddog, “Cooper” a Brittany Spaniel; three sisters, Marie Mikita of New York, NY, Lorraine Passerelli of Lakewood, NJ and Bernadine “Mickey” Kamel of Malvern; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Gerry’s family extends heartfelt thanks to staff of Providence Place Senior Living in Pine Grove for the care, comfort and compassion they gave during these recent months.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10:00 am in Divine Mercy Church, 232 West Cherry Street, Shenandoah with Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights. A visitation will be held on Monday morning from 9:00 am until 10:00 am in Divine Mercy Church. Expressions of sympathy can be made to Divine Mercy Parish Memorial Fund, 108 West Cherry Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. All attending are requested to wear masks.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements.
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She was born on Friday, February 20, 1931, in Barry Township, a daughter of the late Earl H Kimmel and the late Verna (Kessler) Kimmel.
Carolyn was a graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School.
She was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ, Hegins.
She was also a member of the Tri-Valley Senior Citizens.
Carolyn enjoyed walking, reading, crossword puzzles, spending time at the pool and spending time with her family and friends.
Her husband, Rudolph R Geist, passed away in 1974. She was also preceded in death by her parents; by a sister, Arlene Herb, and by two brothers Harold Kimmel and Bobby Kimmel.
She is survived by four daughters, Wendy K Ensinger and her husband Richard of Valley View, Lori A Bauer and her husband John of Dillsburg, Sheila S Wiest of Gratz, and Jenny L Tietsworth and her husband Timothy of Hegins; three sons, Steven R Geist of Hegins, Neal R Geist of High Point, NC, and Brady L Geist of Hegins; sixteen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; three sisters, Wilma Klinger of Ashland, Ellen Woodring of Tremont, and Sandra Fees of Valley View; a brother, Leonard Kimmel of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Friedens United Church of Christ, Hegins, on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 11:00 am, with Rev. Michael C Klahr officiating.
A viewing will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Tuesday at the church.
Burial will be in Friedens Cemetery, Hegins.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
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Mary Ann A. Holley, 79, of Pottsville passed away Wednesday, January 26, at home in peaceful surroundings with loved ones by her side.
She was born to the late Vincent and Agnes (Bauer) Smith on September 24, 1942 in Pottsville. Mary Ann was a graduate of Nativity B.V.M. High school Class of 1961. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, George (Dutch )Holley in 1999, a daughter, Theresa Higgins, infant granddaughter Zoie Marie, as well as her siblings, Agnes Trout, Robert, Joseph, and most recently Edward Smith.
Mary Ann is survived by her daughter and caretaker, Deborah Holley-Purcell and her son-in-law, Mark Purcell with whom she resided, along with her adopted son, grandson Mark Holley. A daughter, Mary Ann Holley-Wagner, and a son, John Holley. She had 12 loving grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.
She and her daughter Deborah often took trips that strengthened her faith and bond with each other.
She loved to visit Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, MD. She also visited the catacombs and truly enjoyed the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. Mary Ann worked for many years at Hills Dept. Store. She often laughed telling stories of how they carried on in the back room recalling fun times with her coworkers. Later in life she worked as an aide caring for students with special needs where she loved helping and making a difference in their lives. She continued her career caring for others in their homes. She consistently went above and beyond to ensure all their needs were met, including making special trips, running errands, and doing small repairs and chores on her days off. Mary Ann had such a compassionate heart and loving spirit. She will be greatly missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Monday, 12:00 pm at Saint John the Baptist Church. Pottsville. All are respectfully invited to attend a visitation with calling hours Monday from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc, Minersville. Interment Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, Pottsville. All current COVID-19 CDC guidelines should be followed. Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville, entrusted with the arrangements.
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Patrick Edward Ryan, 60, of Shamokin, PA, passed away Tuesday, January 25th, at his residence.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
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