Skook News Obituaries: August 8th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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John was born in Pottsville on October 29, 1935, a son of the late Edmund & Cecelia (Dewey) Reiley.
Married 54 years, he was the widower of Agnes E. (McGowan) Reiley.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
John was a graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph's University.
He served in the U.S. Army.
For 40 years, John served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
He served as Mayor of Pottsville from 2000-2014.
John is survived by his son, Hugh M. Reiley, granddaughters: Caitlin Hippeli, wife of Chris, & Erin Goodman, great-grandson, Blaise Hippeli, his sister, Sister Kathleen Reiley, brother, Father Robert Reiley, and nieces, nephews, & cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife, John is also preceded in death by his infant son, Joseph Reiley, son, Terence Reiley, brother, Edmund, and sisters, Eleanor & Sister Cecile.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville at 12 Noon on Wednesday, August 13th. A Viewing will be held at the church from 9:30-11:30 AM on Wednesday. Interment will follow Mass at Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, Inc., PO Box 310, Maryknoll, NY 10545 or Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302 Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302 or St. Patrick’s RCC, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville PA 17901 or Lasting Legacy for Pottsville, c/o Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, 216 S. Centre St., Pottsville PA 17901.
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Born in Danville on July 1, 1945 he was the son of the late Catherine (Manley) and Paul Scheuren.
Joe was devout member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ashland.
He graduated from Ashland High School in 1963.
He was the husband of Margaret “Marg” M. (Hess) Scheuren.
Joe served in the Air Force. He was a self-employed railroad contractor, later he worked for Star Track.
Joe enjoyed his grandchildren, Phillies, and traveling. He was a member of Ashland Elks Lodge 384, Lavelle Volunteer Fire Co, American Legion Post 434-Ashland and Knights of Columbus Council 748.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his niece Angela Neary.
Surviving are; spouse Margaret “Marg” Scheuren, Ashland; daughter Megan Engelbrecht (James), West University Place, TX; daughter Erin Germany (Edward Meyers), Alexandria VA; son Robert Scheuren (Brenda Linn), Ashland; brother John “Jack” Scheuren (Emily), Honey Brook; brother Francis “Frank” Scheuren (Kathy), Womelsdorf; 5 grandchildren Joshua Scheuren (Samantha), Tyler Scheuren, Samuel Engelbrecht, Muriella Engelbrecht, Brandy Kessler; 1 great grandson Kolson Scheuren; nieces, nephews, cousins & in-laws.
A viewing for family and friends will be Saturday August 9, 2025 from 9:00-10:00 AM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ashland. Services in church will begin at 10:00 AM following the viewing. Interment with military honors will be on Monday August 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery-Annville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Joe’s memory to St. John’s Episcopal Church, N 13th St & Market St, Ashland PA 17921.
Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home Inc, 901 Centre St, Ashland PA 17921 has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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Carol A. Werner, 80, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away Thursday, August 7th, at home.
Born in Pottsville on May 7, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Thelma (Bush) and James Frew.
Married 58 years, Carol was the wife of Bruce A.Werner.
She was a 1963 graduate of Minersville Area Jr./Sr. High School.
Carol was employed as a machine operator for Union Knitting Mills, Schuylkill Haven and H H Fessler Knitting Co., Orwigsburg.
She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Schuylkill Haven.
In addition to her husband, Carol is survived by a son, Bruce F. Werner, husband of Lisa, of Pine Grove; a daughter, Jennifer, wife of Ray Honicker, of St. Clair; grandchildren, Richard Werner & Ariana Werner; a great grandchild, Bennett Werner; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Carol is preceded in death by brothers: Robert, James, & Roy Frew, and a sister, Meryl Cherrybon.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 15th at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Schuylkill Haven. A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the beginning of the service. Interment will be private at the family’s convenience.
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Janel was born in Pottsville on January 28th, 1938, a daughter of the late Edward and Minnie (Sheetz) Faust.
She worked in the catering business for Martins Catering of Greenbelt, Maryland for many years.
In 2012, she relocated to the Melbourne, Florida area, where she was a member of the Melbourne Moose Lodge, and then moved back to her hometown of Pottsville in 2022.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George in 2011, a sister Anna and two sons, Craig and Billy.
Surviving are her three sons, Charles, Trent and Ronald, 2 daughters, Sally Ann Merriman and Deborah Neyer. Additionally, two sisters, Patricia Wrona and Diane Mohl survive, along with grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Private interment services will be held with Janel's family present in the near future.
The Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, Pottsville, is assisting Janel's family during their time of need.
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R. Virginia Witherow, 90, of Pine Grove, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Rosewood Rehab and Nursing Center, Schuylkill Haven.
Born on April 1, 1935 in South Fork, PA, she was a daughter of the late Robert L. and Julia Lyden Haney.
She was a member of the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont. She had been very active in her church, belonging to the Bernadette Guild, and helping to run bingo, spaghetti dinners and silent auctions.
Virginia was an Aide and Custodian for the Pine Grove Area School District.
She and her husband Vincent were very involved with the P.G.A. football and wrestling boosters. You could always find them serving food at the football camp from 1972-1983. Anyone who played football will always remember Mr. and Mrs. Witherow. Most of the time, they were busy running to pick up the food for the concession stand for both football and wrestling. Virginia was also a den leader for Cub Scouts and was also active in Girl Scouts.
Virginia married the love of her life, Vincent on April 19, 1954, and they celebrated almost 69 years of marriage prior to his death on March 30, 2023. Also preceding her in death were a sister, Agnes Naugle and four brothers, Robert, Charles, Thomas and Kenneth Haney.
Surviving are two daughters, Jacqueline Boughter of Lebanon, Jean and husband David Degler of Reading; four sons, James and wife Linda Witherow, Joseph and wife Donna Witherow, Jeffrey and wife Frances Witherow, Jerry and wife Missy Witherow, all of Pine Grove; 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; two sisters, Roberta Vasbinder of Sidman, PA and Rosemary Zimmerman of Minnesota; nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 113 Cherry St., Tremont. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove. Interment will follow in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 113 Cherry St., Tremont, PA 17981 in her memory.
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Mary was born in Sheppton, on March 30, 1925, a daughter of the late Steve and Marie (Krutz) Fellin. She worked in the local garment industry as a machine operator.
A long time member at St. John's Lutheran Church in Ringtown, she was also a member of the church Dorcas Club. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed crocheting and sewing.
She was loved very much by her family, husband Kermit, daughter Carol and son-in-law John Ferenchick of Flying Hills, Reading, PA. Granddaughter Kimberly and grandson-in-law, Costel Potcovaru, and Great-Grandson Alexander.
Surviving her are Daughter Carol, Granddaughter Kimberly, and Great-Grandson, Alexander.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kermit Shoup in 2019, a son Thomas, a son in-law John Ferenchick, a grandson Richard and a grandson in-law Costel Potcovaru.
Because Mary loved reading and loved her town library, donations can be made in memory of her to the Ringtown Public Library, 132 W Main St, Ringtown, PA 17967, or online at ringtownlibrary.org.
Mary will be laid to rest alongside her husband Kermit at St. John's Cemetery in Ringtown during private family services, which are being provided by the Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home, Ringtown, PA.
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Born on June 30, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Eugene Welsh Sr. and Henrietta Pettit-Michael.
Besides her parents, Shirley was preceded by her husband, James Aldrich, and her sister, Janet Welsh.
Shirley worked as a Dental Assistant for most of her career, and eventually spent some time in Restaurant Management and Hospital Administration. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ringtown, where she participated in many fundraisers and activities. She loved to read and watch Hallmark movies. Aside from this, she enjoyed visiting with and making new friends, spending time with her grandchildren, and she loved cats, especially her own, Buddy.
Her surviving family includes her daughter, Danielle (Rymond) Munley, with her husband Timothy of Raven Run, 2 grandchildren- Harper and Kennedy, her brother, Eugene Welsh Jr., and a niece and nephew, Kristy Renn and Eugene Welsh III.
A visitation for family and friends will take place on Monday, August 18th, from 9 to 11am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals, 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah. Scripture services will be conducted at 11am by Pastor Michelle Beisel. Burial will follow services in Mountain View Cemetery in West Hazleton.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Shirley’s memory may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ringtown.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
