Skook News Obituaries: January 16th, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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James was born in Pottsville on November 15, 1945, a son of the late Edna May (Werner) and Edwin Joseph Reber.
He was the husband of Deborah (Epting) Reber, they were married January 6, 1990.
Jim graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School and prior to retiring he worked as a truck loader at Lehigh Valley Dairy. He also operated Reber Beverage in Landingville.
He was raised in the Lutheran faith.
James is survived by two daughters, Michelle, wife of Jeffrey Zimmerman and Cassy Kline as well as a son,Allen Reber; grandchildren Andy Noecker, Adam Zimmerman, Paige Zimmerman, Savannah Dabashinsky, Colin Kline and Ceira Kline.
"Pap" as he was affectionately known by his grandchildren, will be remembered for all the good times and memories he shared with family and friends. He loved to organize family get-togethers. His other hobbies included Nascar, working on cars, taking care of his farm and animals, car shows and classic country music.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or Heartland Hospice, 2201 Ridgewood Road, Suite 180, Wyomissing, PA 19610.
Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., is honored to be serving the family.
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With great sadness, we announce the passing of Petronella van de Velden-Sabol, better known to friends and family as Nelleke.
Nelleke was born in the city of Hilversum, The Netherlands on the 8th day of the eight month in 1962 to the late Hermanus van de Velden. She married James Sabol on March 7 1990 in Panama City FL. She met her husband while he was stationed in The Netherlands for the USAF. She was the third child of Hermanus van de Velden. Nelleke leaves her devoted husband Jim. They had 6 children: Samantha and her wife Jessica, Cynthia and her husband James Matsago, Kyle, Quintin, Mitchell, and Logan and his partner, Hyacinth. She was blessed with 4 grand children who brought her more joy than words could ever express. Esmeralda, Owen, Leah, and Avery. She was very proud of her children and grand children.
Nelleke had many hobbies. Scrapbooking,Ceramics, rubber stamping, sewing, needle point, jewelry making, coloring, the list goes on and it would probably be quicker to list what hobbies she didn’t have at one point in her life. She was an accomplished chef with published recipes, and her meals will be sorely missed. Her children have fond memories of the handmade intricate Halloween costumes she would design and sew for them. She also accumulated a very large Barbie collection. She had a route that she would drive that she would stop at 12 different thrift stores, an adventure known as “Going Goodwilling”.
She was a member of the Tamaqua knitting group The Happy Hookers and the Tamaqua Arts Center. She was one of the original writing group members of The Coal Crackers.
One of her biggest passions was genealogy. She found 12,000 family members in her family tree going back to the 1400’s . Nelleke also helped many people trying to research their family trees. She was a respected expert in reading older Dutch records.
Nelleke read everything she could get her hands on. This love was passed to her children who grew up with a home library almost as well stocked as the town library. There was no subject or genre she wouldn’t try but her favorites were science fiction, fantasy, and mythology. Her favorite author was Terry Prachett. Nelleke read and spoke 4 languages. For years she was a featured dancer on the Dutch live music TV program Top Pop.
She was a black belt and top ten world wide ranking player in a strategy based video game. Nelleke also enjoyed Pokémon Go she was stopped many times by the police who asked what she was doing stopping frequently without leaving the car. She had a large board game collection, and was happy to play most of them. Her children refused to play Monopoly against her.
Her most favorite thing in the whole world was her children and grandchildren, She was a devoted stay at home mother and grandmother. Prior to this, she had a few different successful careers, but being a Mom and Oma was her favorite. She loved all of her children and grandchildren so much.
Nelleke loved to take her kids and grandkids on her adventures all over the world. Nelleke loved to go exploring. Everyday was an adventure for her. Never knew where she would end up or how she got there but everyone enjoying every moment of her trips.Nelleke was always there to help anyone in their time of need. She was a staunch defender of friends, family, and underdogs. Her heart was as big as her smile. FTLD took her from us way too early. She always had a very big impact on the lives of everyone that met her. There was almost nothing she didn’t excel at once it caught her attention. She will be deeply missed.
She spent her last moments surrounded by family, love, and in her favorite place, “the arms of my Jim”
Nelleke is proceeded by her father, Hermanus and son, Quintin, and a brother in law, Sietze Beuving, husband of sister Judith in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A celebration of Nelleke's Life will be held on Tuesday evening January 20, 2026 at the funeral home from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Julia (Hudy) Harahus, 90 years of age, of New Ringgold, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, surrounded by the family she cherished. Born in Mala Pelana, Czechoslovakia, on June 29, 1935, to John and Eva Hudy, Julia emigrated to the United States at age 12. She was the last surviving member of seven siblings.
Julia was a woman of deep faith and a devoted member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Coaldale. Her life was defined by her love for family and the bounty of her husband’s farm; she was an accomplished cook and baker, known for canning the seasons' harvests. In retirement, she and her late husband, Michael, enjoyed bus trips across the country, a pilgrimage back to her homeland, and the occasional spirited trip to the casino.
She was reunited in heaven with her beloved husband of 67 years, Michael (d. 2024), and her daughter, Elaine Rottet (d. 2020). Her legacy lives on through her children: Julie McHugh and her husband Rick, Mary Arnold and her husband Rusty, Helen Hafer and her husband Joseph, Michael Harahus, and Peter Harahus and his fiancée Katona Loncar; son-in-law Greg Rottet; and her 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who will forever miss their "Ba-ba."
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday January 17, 2026 at 10 o'clock A.M. from St. Mary's Orthodox Church 2217 First Street Coaldale, Pennsylvania 18218. Friends and family may call in church of Saturday morning from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services.
Interment will be in St. Mary's Orthodox Church Cemetery Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.
Memorials in Julia's name may be made in care of St. Mary's Orthodox Church.
Diane Paruch, 70, of Shenandoah, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2025.
Born in Shenandoah, Diane was the daughter of the late Joseph Paruch and her surviving mother Theresa “Dragnosky” Paruch.
Diane was a graduate of Shenandoah Valley High School and then worked many years for Hershey Food Products until her retirement. She loved to take walks, travel, and spend time with her dear friends.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 20th from 9 to 10am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, Shenandoah. Graveside services will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery at 10:15am and will be officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian.
Nedra R. Kemfort, 88, of Schuylkill Haven passed away on Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital – East Norwegian.
Born in Pottsville, March 21, 1937, in Pottsville she was the daughter of late James Parnell and Rose Lohman Parnell.
Nedra was a founding member of Schuylkill Christian Church and was of deep faith. She even held Bible study classes in her home.
In addition to her parents, Nedra is preceded in death by her husband Ennis Kemfort, Sr. She is also preceded in death by her son Michael.
Nedra is survived by her children; Ennis Kemfort of Schuylkill Haven and Bruce Kemfort husband to Rachelle “Shelly” of Seltzer. She is survived by her grandchildren; Shannon, wife of Ken and Stacy, wife of Tyler along with five great grandchildren. Nedra is also survived by her brother Gerald widower to Joanne and sisters Judy widow to Jimmy and Sharon wife of Steve along with several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday at Grabowski Funeral Home in Schuylkill Haven at 10:00 A.M. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services. Interment will follow on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Nedra’s memory to Schuylkill Christian Church, 780 South Route 183, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 or the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital – 100 N. Academy Ave, Danville, PA 17822.
David Allen McCoy, age 66, of Danville, PA passed away Thursday, January 15th, 2026 at his home.
Born in Patterson, NJ on December 16, 1959, he was the son of the late Sanada (Tyson) McCoy.
David served in the US Marine Corp as a CPL from 1977 tll 1982. He retired as a Lieutenant after 30 years of working first for SCI Mahanoy then SCI Chester and last at SCI Coal Township. He was a member of the Catawissa VFW and loved going hunting and fishing.
David is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lori Ann (Bieber) McCoy: daughter Natasha McCoy: son David "Jr." McGinnis: son Dante McCoy; daughter Jazzmyn Sosnoski; daughter Shyan McCoy; grandchildren; and sister Sheila McCoy Sheriff
A Religious Service will be held on Wednesday January 21st at 7pm at the Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home, Port Carbon.
Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Wednesday from 5-7PM at the Funeral Home,
Interment with Military Honors will be held at 10:30AM at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
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Nelleke was born in the city of Hilversum, The Netherlands on the 8th day of the eight month in 1962 to the late Hermanus van de Velden. She married James Sabol on March 7 1990 in Panama City FL. She met her husband while he was stationed in The Netherlands for the USAF. She was the third child of Hermanus van de Velden. Nelleke leaves her devoted husband Jim. They had 6 children: Samantha and her wife Jessica, Cynthia and her husband James Matsago, Kyle, Quintin, Mitchell, and Logan and his partner, Hyacinth. She was blessed with 4 grand children who brought her more joy than words could ever express. Esmeralda, Owen, Leah, and Avery. She was very proud of her children and grand children.
Nelleke had many hobbies. Scrapbooking,Ceramics, rubber stamping, sewing, needle point, jewelry making, coloring, the list goes on and it would probably be quicker to list what hobbies she didn’t have at one point in her life. She was an accomplished chef with published recipes, and her meals will be sorely missed. Her children have fond memories of the handmade intricate Halloween costumes she would design and sew for them. She also accumulated a very large Barbie collection. She had a route that she would drive that she would stop at 12 different thrift stores, an adventure known as “Going Goodwilling”.
She was a member of the Tamaqua knitting group The Happy Hookers and the Tamaqua Arts Center. She was one of the original writing group members of The Coal Crackers.
One of her biggest passions was genealogy. She found 12,000 family members in her family tree going back to the 1400’s . Nelleke also helped many people trying to research their family trees. She was a respected expert in reading older Dutch records.
Nelleke read everything she could get her hands on. This love was passed to her children who grew up with a home library almost as well stocked as the town library. There was no subject or genre she wouldn’t try but her favorites were science fiction, fantasy, and mythology. Her favorite author was Terry Prachett. Nelleke read and spoke 4 languages. For years she was a featured dancer on the Dutch live music TV program Top Pop.
She was a black belt and top ten world wide ranking player in a strategy based video game. Nelleke also enjoyed Pokémon Go she was stopped many times by the police who asked what she was doing stopping frequently without leaving the car. She had a large board game collection, and was happy to play most of them. Her children refused to play Monopoly against her.
Her most favorite thing in the whole world was her children and grandchildren, She was a devoted stay at home mother and grandmother. Prior to this, she had a few different successful careers, but being a Mom and Oma was her favorite. She loved all of her children and grandchildren so much.
Nelleke loved to take her kids and grandkids on her adventures all over the world. Nelleke loved to go exploring. Everyday was an adventure for her. Never knew where she would end up or how she got there but everyone enjoying every moment of her trips.Nelleke was always there to help anyone in their time of need. She was a staunch defender of friends, family, and underdogs. Her heart was as big as her smile. FTLD took her from us way too early. She always had a very big impact on the lives of everyone that met her. There was almost nothing she didn’t excel at once it caught her attention. She will be deeply missed.
She spent her last moments surrounded by family, love, and in her favorite place, “the arms of my Jim”
Nelleke is proceeded by her father, Hermanus and son, Quintin, and a brother in law, Sietze Beuving, husband of sister Judith in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A celebration of Nelleke's Life will be held on Tuesday evening January 20, 2026 at the funeral home from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
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Julia was a woman of deep faith and a devoted member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Coaldale. Her life was defined by her love for family and the bounty of her husband’s farm; she was an accomplished cook and baker, known for canning the seasons' harvests. In retirement, she and her late husband, Michael, enjoyed bus trips across the country, a pilgrimage back to her homeland, and the occasional spirited trip to the casino.
She was reunited in heaven with her beloved husband of 67 years, Michael (d. 2024), and her daughter, Elaine Rottet (d. 2020). Her legacy lives on through her children: Julie McHugh and her husband Rick, Mary Arnold and her husband Rusty, Helen Hafer and her husband Joseph, Michael Harahus, and Peter Harahus and his fiancée Katona Loncar; son-in-law Greg Rottet; and her 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who will forever miss their "Ba-ba."
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday January 17, 2026 at 10 o'clock A.M. from St. Mary's Orthodox Church 2217 First Street Coaldale, Pennsylvania 18218. Friends and family may call in church of Saturday morning from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services.
Interment will be in St. Mary's Orthodox Church Cemetery Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.
Memorials in Julia's name may be made in care of St. Mary's Orthodox Church.
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Born in Shenandoah, Diane was the daughter of the late Joseph Paruch and her surviving mother Theresa “Dragnosky” Paruch.
Diane was a graduate of Shenandoah Valley High School and then worked many years for Hershey Food Products until her retirement. She loved to take walks, travel, and spend time with her dear friends.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 20th from 9 to 10am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, Shenandoah. Graveside services will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery at 10:15am and will be officiated by Msgr. Ronald Bocian.
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Nedra R. Kemfort, 88, of Schuylkill Haven passed away on Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital – East Norwegian.
Born in Pottsville, March 21, 1937, in Pottsville she was the daughter of late James Parnell and Rose Lohman Parnell.
Nedra was a founding member of Schuylkill Christian Church and was of deep faith. She even held Bible study classes in her home.
In addition to her parents, Nedra is preceded in death by her husband Ennis Kemfort, Sr. She is also preceded in death by her son Michael.
Nedra is survived by her children; Ennis Kemfort of Schuylkill Haven and Bruce Kemfort husband to Rachelle “Shelly” of Seltzer. She is survived by her grandchildren; Shannon, wife of Ken and Stacy, wife of Tyler along with five great grandchildren. Nedra is also survived by her brother Gerald widower to Joanne and sisters Judy widow to Jimmy and Sharon wife of Steve along with several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday at Grabowski Funeral Home in Schuylkill Haven at 10:00 A.M. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services. Interment will follow on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Nedra’s memory to Schuylkill Christian Church, 780 South Route 183, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 or the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital – 100 N. Academy Ave, Danville, PA 17822.
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Born in Patterson, NJ on December 16, 1959, he was the son of the late Sanada (Tyson) McCoy.
David served in the US Marine Corp as a CPL from 1977 tll 1982. He retired as a Lieutenant after 30 years of working first for SCI Mahanoy then SCI Chester and last at SCI Coal Township. He was a member of the Catawissa VFW and loved going hunting and fishing.
David is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lori Ann (Bieber) McCoy: daughter Natasha McCoy: son David "Jr." McGinnis: son Dante McCoy; daughter Jazzmyn Sosnoski; daughter Shyan McCoy; grandchildren; and sister Sheila McCoy Sheriff
A Religious Service will be held on Wednesday January 21st at 7pm at the Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home, Port Carbon.
Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Wednesday from 5-7PM at the Funeral Home,
Interment with Military Honors will be held at 10:30AM at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
