Skook News Obituaries: June 26, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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passed away peacefully at home on the evening of September 17th, due to complications from Alzheimers.
William was born on February 22, 1942 in Hazleton, PA, to the late Joseph and Jean Schaller Gallagher.
After graduating from West Hazleton High School in 1959, he served 4 years in the US Air Force as a medic in London, England .
Upon returning to the US, he attended Penn State University, graduating in 1968.
He went on to earn Master Degrees from both Bloomsburg University and Lehigh University
and a Doctorate in Education from NOVA Southeastern University in 1996.
In the fall of 1966, he married Nancy E. Bachman in West Hazleton.
After beginning his career in education as the Director of Special Education for the Schuylkill
IU#29, he became the Principal at Tri Valley High School.
His final position was as the Superintendent of schools for Saint Clair School District until retiring in 2007.
Bill was an avid Penn State football fan. He enjoyed golf, traveling, boating and spending time
with his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 3 brothers, James, Paul and Joe.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, son Bill and wife Beth, Solomons Island MD, son Sean and
wife Becky, Cumberland, MD. Five grandchildren, Kiera, Brooklyn, NY, Allison, Solomons Island,
MD, Riley, Finnigan and Sullivan, Cumberland, MD, sisters Louise, Mary Ellen and Katie, and
brother Mike.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc, 200 W Main St, Valley View PA 17983. Visitation will be held from 10am to 11am.
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She was born June 29, 1927, in Pottsville a daughter of the late John and Mary Ellis Lesko.
She was a 1945 graduate of Pottsville High School.
Prior to retiring he worked a bookkeeper for the former Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic and American Surgical Supply.
Mary was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, a charter member of the Catholic War Veterans Women's Auxiliary, Pottsville, the St. John Catholic Women's Union and St. John the Baptist School PTA where she enjoyed making subs for fundraisers.
She was also a skilled wedding cake baker and took delight in making her creations for area weddings.
She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband George. The two were wed August 10, 1946 and married for 27 years before his death in 1973. She was also predeceased by a son John, daughter Mary Jane and son Joseph.
She is survived by two sons; George Connell and his wife Sharon of Frederick, Maryland and Jim Connell and his wife Doi of Peoria, Arizona, five daughters; Janet Basch and her husband Marty of Center Conway, N.H., Terri Johnson and her husband Van of Tucker, Georgia, Bernie Connell-Stahl and her husband Randy of Fort Collins, Colorado, Karen Rhoad and her husband Steve of Hummelstown and Susie Zoller of Pottsville, 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated will be celebrated 11AM Thursday on Mary’s 96th birthday at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 6-8PM Wednesday at James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville and from 10AM until the time of Mass Thursday at the church. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Mary to either the St. John the Baptist Catholic Women's Union, 913 Mahantongo St., Pottsville PA 17901 or Schuylkill Center, Homestead Unit, 1000 Schuylkill Manor Rd. Pottsville PA 17901. Interment will follow in St. John No. 2 Cemetery, Pottsville.
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Cathy was born on December 30, 1945, at the former Locust Mountain State Hospital in Shenandoah, the oldest child of the late Charles and Elsie (Trexler) Rumbel. She was a 1963 graduate of the former Ringtown high school, and began a lifelong career, working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, first in the Bureau of Professional Licensing in Harrisburg, then later working for the Department of Health and Welfare in the Pottsville office, from which she retired.
She was an active member of the Aurand Memorial United Church of Christ in Ringtown. She served as a Sunday school teacher, beginning in her teens. She had more than fifty years of perfect attendance and participated in the Polyanna class. Cathy was also very active in the local chapter of the Eastern Star, where she was a past Worthy Matron.
She enjoyed assisting her husband Roger provide chocolate cakes with peanut butter icing for local fire company functions. Cathy was a friend to many, and in her retirement she enjoyed traveling with Roger and good friends to many destinations, one of which was their favorite was Alaska.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Roger, in February of this year, and by a brother, Charles.
She is survived by a sister, Esther, wife of Rodney Mastauskas of Kempton, and by a brother, John Rumbel and his wife Michelle, of Ringtown. A brother in law, Ralph Shoup of Catawissa also survives. Although she did not have any of her own children, she was blessed with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Friday, June 30th at 11 AM at the Aurand Memorial United Methodist Church on West Main Street in Ringtown. A viewing will be held Thursday evening, June 29th from 6-9 PM at the Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home, 412 West Main Street, Ringtown, and again on Friday morning from 10-11 AM at the church prior to the service. Cathy will be laid to rest alongside Roger at St. John's cemetery in Ringtown following the service.
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Born in Pottsville, PA on December 5, 2017, she was the daughter of Michael Scott and Mary Margaret (Winnick) McCarty.
Sophia was a member of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in New Philadelphia. She loved swimming, riding roller coasters, playing games, and watching movies.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather Michael S. McCarty Sr.
In addition to her parents, Sophia is survived by three brothers: Dylan, Nicholas, and Joshua; paternal grandmother Cathy Steever, Pottsville; maternal grandparents Walter and Donna (Piermatteo) Winnick, Orwigsburg; uncle and aunt and God parents Michael and Vicki Winnick, Leesport; and uncles: Eric McCarty, Ashland; Matthew McCarty, Pottsville; and Jeremiah Steever, Pottsville. Also all her loving Cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, New Philadelphia, PA. at 11AM on Saturday, July 1st, with Msgr. William Glosser officiating.
Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Saturday 9-11AM at Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home.
Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Saturday 9-11AM at Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home.
Interment will be held in the St. Anthony Cemetery in Port Carbon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley 21325 15th Street, Suite 401 Allentown, PA 18103.
James J. Gardner, Jr., age 81, of Pottsville, PA , passed away Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at his home.
Born in Pottsville, PA on October 5, 1941, he was the son of the late James Joseph and Elizabeth (Mistishen) Carestia.
Jim was a graduate of Pottsville High School, Class of 1959. He served in the US Army and then worked as a truck driver for Mazzuca Enterprises Pottsville. Jim was a member of the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 34 years, Francis M. (Mazzuca) Gardner and his second wife of 10 years, Diane Gardner.
Jim is survived by four sons: James and wife Brenda, Michael and wife Carrie Ann, Anthony and wife Dulcee, and Christopher and wife Joielynne; seven grandchildren; Mariah, Ty, Ian, Luke, Libby, Lily, and Trent; two great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Bryce; sisters: Carol and Tammy; brothers: Harold and Randy; and his companion Cheryl Swartz.
A Religious Service will be held at the Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home in Port Carbon at 11:30AM on Friday, June 30th, with Deacon John Setlock officiating.
Relatives and Friends are invited to visit with the family Friday 10-11:30AM at the Funeral Home.
Interment with Military Honors St. Joseph Cemetery Pottsville, Pa..
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association.
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Born in Pottsville, PA on October 5, 1941, he was the son of the late James Joseph and Elizabeth (Mistishen) Carestia.
Jim was a graduate of Pottsville High School, Class of 1959. He served in the US Army and then worked as a truck driver for Mazzuca Enterprises Pottsville. Jim was a member of the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 34 years, Francis M. (Mazzuca) Gardner and his second wife of 10 years, Diane Gardner.
Jim is survived by four sons: James and wife Brenda, Michael and wife Carrie Ann, Anthony and wife Dulcee, and Christopher and wife Joielynne; seven grandchildren; Mariah, Ty, Ian, Luke, Libby, Lily, and Trent; two great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Bryce; sisters: Carol and Tammy; brothers: Harold and Randy; and his companion Cheryl Swartz.
A Religious Service will be held at the Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home in Port Carbon at 11:30AM on Friday, June 30th, with Deacon John Setlock officiating.
Relatives and Friends are invited to visit with the family Friday 10-11:30AM at the Funeral Home.
Interment with Military Honors St. Joseph Cemetery Pottsville, Pa..
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Anthony Urban Law Offices. P.C.