Skook News Obituaries: August 7th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Born in Mowry, she was a daughter of the late Lawrence M. and Alice (Willis) Wolfgang. She had been employed as a window maker for Wenco Windows, Ringtown, until her retirement.
She was of the Methodist faith.
Alice loved cooking and baking and was always ready to help others with painting, wallpapering and anything else that they needed. She loved spending time with her poodles and Siamese cats.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Wolfgang and two brothers: Lawerence and Charles Wolfgang.
Alice is survived by her husband William I. Mills: her three daughters; Lisa Mills, Sunbury; Beth Ann wife of Paul Michalik, Girardville and Tammy wife of Robert Morrison, Manheim; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; her three brothers: Louis Wolfgang, Manheim Township; Harold Wolfgang, Mount Carmel and John Wolfgang, PA; her three sisters: Joann Brabazon, NJ; Mary Catherine Krick, Barnesville and Agnes Jones, Lancaster; also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, August 10th at 4 p.m. from the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, 403 W. Main Street, Girardville. A viewing will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held on August 12th at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Sign the guest book, leave personal condolences and for further information please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com
Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Girardville, is in charge of arrangements.
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Born in Frackville, Eleanor was a daughter of the late Theodore and Florence (Dunsavage) Hawranick. A 1956 graduate of Butler Township High School, she became a Registered Nurse at Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia and later earned certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Eleanor began her career as a nursing supervisor at Roxborough, and for 25 years served as both a nurse and office manager for Dr. Ben Houser, Jr. in Tamaqua. She retired in 1999.
Eleanor was a bold and generous woman with a strong sense of right and wrong—and she never hesitated to speak her truth when it mattered. She was the kind of person people turned to during life’s toughest moments, knowing they would get honesty, compassion, and clear guidance. She supported others not just with words, but with action. Whether it was a pot of her homemade bean soup, a quiet conversation, or a direct but caring nudge toward getting back on one’s feet, Eleanor was always there.
She was also an extraordinary mother—not only to her two sons, but to their many friends who regularly filled the Sidoriak home. Whether the boys and their friends were playing basketball, biking, having a party, or gathering for games indoors or out, Eleanor had two things ready: chores and food. It was understood that chores came first—and friends often pitched in happily, knowing a homemade feast would follow and a fun adventure awaited. Eleanor had a gift for keeping a household full of energy running smoothly, creating a space that was welcoming, joyful, and filled with love. She and John shared a wonderful balance as parents, raising their sons with warmth, structure, laughter, and the kind of steadfast love that shaped everything they did. Their boys couldn’t have asked for more.
As a Baba to her five grandchildren, Eleanor was just as devoted. She passed down family traditions, shared stories, cooked favorite meals, and made time to really learn about each of their lives. Sometimes her curiosity meant asking a few more questions than might have been comfortable—but that was Eleanor: direct, engaged, and deeply loving. Baba and Didi adored their grandchildren and thought of them constantly, celebrating every milestone and always looking forward to the next visit, phone call, or moment together.
Eleanor’s kitchen was filled with the scents of pierogies, halupki, and other family recipes she lovingly prepared. She hosted with heart and purpose—from Christmas dinners to backyard summer parties—always bringing people together with food, warmth, and conversation. Her home was well-kept but “lived in,” as she liked to say, and always open to others—especially those going through hard times.
She was also the heart behind two beloved family traditions—starting her side’s family reunion in 1969 alongside her Aunt Vera, and later initiating the Sidoriak family reunion in the 1980s. Thanks to her vision and determination, both reunions are still held today, continuing her legacy of family connection.
Vacations were never about destinations, but about people. The family would pile into the car and travel to visit relatives in Ohio, Florida, and dear friends in West Virginia. Whether it was creeks, farms, or porches, the memories she helped create were always about togetherness.
Her life was firmly rooted in her Orthodox Christian faith, which shaped her values, her marriage, and the way she raised her family. She and her husband, John, met through the Orthodox church and remained faithful members of St. Mary Russian Orthodox Church in Coaldale. Their shared faith was the foundation of their life together.
Eleanor deeply loved her husband, and his passing in 2016 left a lasting ache. She missed him every day and carried his memory with her in everything she did.
She is survived by two sons: John, Jr., and his wife Barbara (Comisac) Sidoriak of Wilmington, Delaware, and Theodore, and his wife Susan (Chickilly) Sidoriak of Tafton, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren: Dominique, Ivan, Grier, Emma (and her fiancé Juan Gaskins), and Magdalene Sidoriak; two brothers: Theodore Hawranick, III of Springfield, Virginia, and John Hawranick, and his wife Joyce, of Morrisville, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 11, 2025, in St. Mary Orthodox Church, First and Phillips Streets, Coaldale, with The Very Rev. James P. Weremedic officiating. Interment in Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown, will follow the service.
Friends may call from 9:30 to 11:00 AM on Monday at the church.
Memorial donations in Eleanor’s name may be made to St. Mary Orthodox Church, 217 First Street, Coaldale, PA 18218.
Arrangements are by Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
