Skook News Obituaries: December 28th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Joe was born on September 1, 1963, in Reading, PA, to Salvatore Albert and the late Margaret (Walsh) Albert. He loved growing up in the house on High Street in Mt. Penn with his five younger siblings and countless neighborhood friends who felt like family. He attended Central Catholic High School and went on to Villanova University, forming meaningful and lifelong friendships along the way. He later earned his medical degree from PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine), fulfilling a lifelong calling to care for others.
Since 1994, Dr. Albert dedicated his life to serving the community as a board-certified physician in family medicine. Over the course of his distinguished career, he practiced family medicine in Morgantown and Wyomissing. He also worked at Pottsville Hospital in both the Emergency and Occupational Medicine Departments. He concluded his medical career in Pottstown with Tower Health, where he continued his commitment to compassionate patient care. He was deeply loved by his patients for his gentleness, kindness, and the genuine care he showed to everyone who walked through his door.
Above all else, Joe’s greatest joy was his family. He shared a loving marriage with his wife, Ann, and was a devoted father to his four children, Karen, Victoria, Christa, and Joseph. He was also a proud father-in-law to Benjamin Wawrzonek. He was an incredible role model, always supporting his children in sports, education, careers, and life’s endeavors. Joe cherished time with his siblings, parents, and Ann’s large family. He gave his time generously, always putting his loved ones first and going above and beyond for those he cared about. He was a loving husband to Ann, an incredible partner and a constant source of love and support.
Joe was a devoted member of St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, nurturing a deep love for the Virgin Mary and finding inspiration in St. Padre Pio. His faith guided him through life’s joys and challenges. Over the past year, as he faced his battle with cancer, his devotion never wavered, and his trust in God remained a source of peace and courage.
Joe is survived by his father, Salvatore Albert; his wife, Ann Albert; his four children, Karen Albert, Victoria Wawrzonek, Christa Albert, and Joseph Albert; his son-in-law, Benjamin Wawrzonek; and his five siblings,Regina (Thomas) Battinieri, James (Gail) Albert, Margaret (Bernard) Brautigan, Christopher (Kristen) Albert, and Jonathan (Melissa) Albert. He was forever grateful for the family, friends, and caregivers who participated in his life and supported him along the way.
Visitation with family and friends will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 a.m. at St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church,4975 Boyertown Pike, Reading, PA 19606. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, 3139 Kutztown Road, Reading, PA 19605. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joseph’s memory may be made to the Church memorial fund at the above address. Lutz Funeral Home, Inc. has been entrusted with arrangements.
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He was born February 16, 1952, in Pottsville a son of the late Robert A. and Josephine Minneci Carestia.
He was a 1971 graduate of Cole High School, San Antonio, TX
Prior to retiring Tony worked for the former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant and D.G. Yuengling and Son Brewery, both of Pottsville.
Tony was a man of deep passion, steady hands, and an even bigger heart. If something had an engine, wheels, or chrome, he loved it—especially his treasured 1969 Camaro, which he proudly took to many car shows.
Pop Pop was the person you called when something needed fixing. And not just fixing—fixing done right. He never hesitated to drop everything to help with a home project, stepping in as the “project manager,” teacher, and supplier of tools all at once. Many of those tools somehow became permanent “donations” to the cause. He believed that if you were going to do something, you should learn how to do it well. And if Pop Pop couldn’t fix it, then truly, no one could.
As much as he loved cars and motorcycles, nothing ever came close to how much he loved his grandchildren. His enthusiasm for life was only matched, and truly exceeded, by the pride he felt watching them grow. He was always cheering them on, whether they were playing sports, making music, creating art, dancing or traveling. Whatever they were passionate about, Pop Pop was their biggest fan.
He was preceded in death by a nephew, Robert Carestia.
Surviving him are his long-time companion Elaine Clews; daughter, Brooke Kuhlen and her husband, Michael, of Harleysville; son, Jason Clews and his wife, Leah, of Pottsville; eight grandchildren, Katie, Lily, and Zoe Kuhlen; Maxwell, Hudson, Quincy, Wyatt, and Alora Clews; brother, Ralph Carestia, and his wife Nancy, Melbourne, FL; a sister Lucille Moyer, Hamburg; a godson Ryan McDonald, Palo Alto; and nieces and nephews.
Service of Remembrance will be held 11AM Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9AM until the time of services. Interment will follow services at St. Joseph Cemetery, Pottsville. The family would prefer remembrance in the form of contributions in memory of Tony be made to Hillside SPCA, PO Box 223, Pottsville, PA 17901.
These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
