Skook News Obituaries: January 3rd, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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She was born June 21, 1945, in Pottsville a daughter of the late Nelson H. and Laura Louise Bucholz Major.
She was a 1963 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.
Prior to retiring Joyce was employed by Cressona Aluminum and then Alcoa in the sales department for many years.
Joyce was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville where she was served on Altar Guild and was a member of the churches Circle 5 group and exercise group. She also volunteered at Coal Country Kitchen in Mahanoy City.
Joyce enjoyed gardening and not a day passed when she was tending to her yard. She was devoted to her family and enjoyed spending time with various get-togethers, especially going to lunch with her grandsons. She also enjoyed visits with her sister-in-law, childhood friends and former colleagues reminiscing.
Joyce was preceded in death by the love of her life of 53 years her husband, James S. Miller, May 29, 2020; a sister, Louise May Conrad; a brother, Nelson Thomas Major.
Surviving are her daughter, Heidi Fox and her husband Daniel; a son, Neal Miller and his wife Janet; grandsons, Cody Strause, Kyle Strause, Caleb Fox, Corey Fox and Jeffery Brouse; a granddaughters, Samantha Miller and Jordanne Zaccone; 3 great grandchildren.; sister-in-law, Judy Imschweiler; nieces Barbara Conrad and Rhonda Torres; a nephew, Dean Conrad.
Funeral Service will be held 11AM Wednesday, January 7th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville, with Rev. Chris Rothharpt officiating. Family and friends are invited to a viewing at the church Tuesday evening, January 6th from 6-8PM and Wednesday, from 10:00AM until the time of services. Interment will be at the convenience of the family at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. The family would prefer remembrance in the form of contributions in memory of Joyce be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St. Pottsville, PA 17901 or Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233, Pottsville PA 17901. Arrangements are under the care of James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville.
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Petar graduated high school and some degree of a university in Macedonia before serving in the military for his country.
He came to the United States in 1983 and worked in many factories before owning and operating the Park Restaurant in Shenandoah with his family for over 25 years making the best breakfast and burgers.
He was of the Pravoslavni Hristiani faith.
Petar was a hard worker all his life and always there to help anyone in need. He enjoyed going to casinos, playing the lottery and visiting his son in Florida.
Petar will be missed dearly by his loving family and friends, especially by his beloved cat Shadow and the many customers he got to know throughout the years from the Park Restaurant.
In addition to his father he was preceded in death by Father-in-law George Georgevic; Mother-in-law Anna Georgevic; Brothers-in-law Vlade Tasevski; Steven Georgevic.
Surviving are his loving wife of 43 years Violet (Georgevic) Pavlovski; Daughter Kristina Pavlovski of St. Clair; Son Nikola Pavlovski and his wife Maile of Port Charlotte, FL; Grandson Matthew Alcisto; Sister Kalipso Tasevska of Macedonia; Nephew Aleksandar, his wife Bilijana and their son Nikola Tasevski of Germany; Nieces Natalia with her son Stefan; Ivana and Simona Georgevic of Florida and extended family.
Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday January 10, 2026 at Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home 110 N. Second St. Saint Clair, PA 17970. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 AM at the funeral home.
She was born on November 16, 1935, in Shamokin, a daughter of the late William Mays and the late Vera (Powell) Mays.
She was a member of Salem Church of Rough and Ready.
Over her life she babysat seventy-eight children in the Pitman area.
Her husband, Charles H Hepler, to whom she was married for almost sixty years passed away in 2015. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers and four sisters
She is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Bruce) Davis of Newville and Judy (Joseph) Buranich of Selinsgrove; sons, Kevin Hepler of State College and Brian Hepler and husband Kevin Trainor of Fort Lauderdale, FL; grandsons Andrew Buranich, Maj. Jason (Ashley) Buranich, and Tyler Buranich; great grandchildren, Cecelia and Desmond Buranich ; step grandchildren Jason Davis, Julie Lebo, and Sarah Finkenbinder; step great grandchildren, Tayor Keen, Trent and Alison Davis, and Jarett, Ellie, and Wyatt Finkenbinder; step great great grandson, Elias Keen; and a sister, Joyce Weikel.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Salem Church of Rough and Ready on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11 am with Rev Mark Rothermel officiating.
Visitation will be held from 10 am to 11 am at the church.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Born at the former Ashland Hospital in Fountain Springs, June 17, 1958, he was the son of the late Peter M. and Mary (Krolick) Cherapan. Pete was a graduate of Mount Carmel High School, class of 1972. He was a truck driver for area coal companies, and Indian Hills Trucking of Paxinos, lastly, a security guard for the Advanced Security Agency of Coal Township until his retirement. Preceding him in death was a son Peter J. Cherapan Jr., passing May 24, 1991, sisters; Donna (Cherapan) Stephenson and Tina (Cherapan) Eisenhart.
Survivors
Wife: Pamela (Butler) Cherapan, married 16 years
Daughter: Ashley Cherapan, Ashland
Four red headed step children: Jodi Verdensky, Bloomsburg, Jolene Renninger (Corey), Saint Clair, John Verdensky, (Amanda), Pottsville, Cory Verdensky (Steph), Ashland
Beloved dog Harley
14 Grandchildren, Many good friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Peter’s life, Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 2 PM, in the Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, 1323 Centre St., Ashland. Officiating will be Rev. Jeremy Smallwood, pastor of the Lavelle Church of the Nazarene. A calling hour will begin at 1 PM until time of service. The family requests attendees dress casually, and that memorials be made to the Hillside S.P.C.A., 51 SPCA Road, Pottsville, PA 17901. Visit www.Fritzfuneralhome to leave condolences. The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Survivors
Wife: Pamela (Butler) Cherapan, married 16 years
Daughter: Ashley Cherapan, Ashland
Four red headed step children: Jodi Verdensky, Bloomsburg, Jolene Renninger (Corey), Saint Clair, John Verdensky, (Amanda), Pottsville, Cory Verdensky (Steph), Ashland
Beloved dog Harley
14 Grandchildren, Many good friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Peter’s life, Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 2 PM, in the Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, 1323 Centre St., Ashland. Officiating will be Rev. Jeremy Smallwood, pastor of the Lavelle Church of the Nazarene. A calling hour will begin at 1 PM until time of service. The family requests attendees dress casually, and that memorials be made to the Hillside S.P.C.A., 51 SPCA Road, Pottsville, PA 17901. Visit www.Fritzfuneralhome to leave condolences. The Richard W. Fritz Funeral Home, Ashland, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
