Skook News Obituaries: March 18th, 2026
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
---------------------------------------------------
Marianne was a member of Pottsville Area High School Class of 1958. Marianne was happiest raising her children and was a devoted Housewife and Homemaker. She loved baking, water skiing, horseback riding, and crocheting. Most summer days you could find her with her children at JFK Swimming Pool. As her children got older, she worked in the garment industry, including Argo Factory in Pottsville and Villa Fashions in Shenandoah.
In addition to her parents, Marianne is preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years, Edward Palek, who passed 6 months prior and her brother, Francis Dehner.
Lovingly called “Mare” by her children, she is survived by them- Donald B. Young, Jr. (Deanne) of Summit Station, PA; Kathryn Kate Marinelli (Bill) of Orwigsburg, PA; Andrea Young of Frackville, PA; her step-children- Linda Maberry (Don) of Cressona, PA; Edward Palek, Jr (Angela) of Lyon, MI; and Michelle Olivier (Dale) of Niles, MI; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Private arrangements will be held at a future date at the convenience of the family.
--------------------------------------------------
.jpg)
Anne was the daughter of the late Leonard J. Chaikowsky and Eleanor Wasley, and sister of the late Leonard Chaikowsky II (Lenny). She was the widow of Wilfred La Voie, who passed away in 2013.
Survivors include her second husband, Peter D. Skirmantas; their beloved cat, Sir Edmund; her cousin Judy Brazinsky of Kearny, New Jersey; four stepchildren and multiple step-grandchildren; and dozens of friends across the country, particularly in Pennsylvania and Southern California.
She was a member of the Shenandoah Valley High School class of 1975 and was inducted into the Shenandoah Valley School District Wall of Fame in June 2025. She attended Syracuse University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in television and radio production, and later earned her master's in education counseling. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in theatrical production management and worked as a teacher at several schools in the Los Angeles area, including the LA County High School for the Arts.
Her talents took her in many directions, including the production of audio recordings for the blind and reading-impaired, production stage management, and the establishment of programs within the Los Angeles school system. She supervised summer youth, employment, and training programs and organized incentive programs for at-risk teenagers with community leaders and merchants.
An avid reader, she was a dedicated volunteer at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books for 27 years, at which she served as stage and production manager for panels with multiple authors and Hollywood personalities. An active member of the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society, she served as that organization's “Hollywood connection” for a decade. In this role, she arranged for famed screenwriter Darryl Ponicsan, a Shenandoah native, to participate in the town’s sesquicentennial in 2016, then later assisted in establishing a room dedicated to Ponicsan in the Society's museum.
She wrote two books and gathered hundreds of photographs for the Arcadia Press' Images of America series: Shenandoah, which she wrote specifically for the town’s sesquicentennial, and Lithuanians of Schuylkill County. She also produced a special DVD about Shenandoah's St. George Church in an effort to save the church from the wrecking ball, and later co-authored St. George Church: A Photographic Remembrance following the razing of the church.
She was an avid supporter of the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, through which she established several scholarship funds for Shenandoah Valley High School graduating seniors.
Anne loved all animals and was especially fond of labs and golden retrievers, becoming a pet mom to her pups, Larwin, Chatsworth, and Nikita. In her later years, much to her own surprise, she learned to appreciate and love cats, doting on Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary, two kittens who found their way into her and her husband Peter's home and hearts.
But her first love was travel, and she crossed the North American continent many times, by air and land, and visited numerous European countries, including five trips to Lithuania. While in Lithuania, she taught the English language at the American English School (AMES) in Vilnius.
Throughout her life, Anne had been active and energetic, so her sudden passing after a short illness came as a shock to her family, friends, and the community. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at a time and location to be announced soon.
While flowers are appreciated, Anne asked that friends consider making donations to one of the following organizations: the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation (SACF, 216 S. Centre Street, Pottsville, PA 17901), the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society (GSAHS, 201 S. Main Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976), or the Lithuanian Heritage Museum (318 E. Centre Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976).
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
--------------------------------------------------
Debra Ann "Debbie" Schneck, 63, of Cherry St., Pine Grove, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.
Born on September 20, 1962 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of Donald "Duckie" and Barbara Bligan Schneck of Pine Grove.
She was a graduate of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 in MarLin.
Debbie had formerly worked at Lil Angel's Daycare, Moyer's Flower Shop and R. & J. Trophies, all in Pine Grove. She also was a server at banquets at the former Flying Dutchman Motorcycle Club in Pine Grove.
She loved to collect anything with pigs and loved making latch hooks and giving them to people.
Debbie participated in the Special Olympics and received a gold and bronze medal at Nationals held at LSU.
She was loved by all and will truly be missed.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are two brothers, Dean and wife Carol Schneck, Timothy and wife Lisa Schneck; a sister, Trudy and husband Lyman Witmer, all of Pine Grove; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Noon at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Pastor Barry Spatz officiating. There will be a viewing on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. until Noon at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to either the Shriners Childrens Hospital, 3551 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 or online at www.shrinerschildrens.org or to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, 18 Wertz Dr., Pine Grove, PA 17963 in her memory.
Born on September 20, 1962 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of Donald "Duckie" and Barbara Bligan Schneck of Pine Grove.
She was a graduate of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 in MarLin.
Debbie had formerly worked at Lil Angel's Daycare, Moyer's Flower Shop and R. & J. Trophies, all in Pine Grove. She also was a server at banquets at the former Flying Dutchman Motorcycle Club in Pine Grove.
She loved to collect anything with pigs and loved making latch hooks and giving them to people.
Debbie participated in the Special Olympics and received a gold and bronze medal at Nationals held at LSU.
She was loved by all and will truly be missed.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are two brothers, Dean and wife Carol Schneck, Timothy and wife Lisa Schneck; a sister, Trudy and husband Lyman Witmer, all of Pine Grove; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Noon at the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove with Pastor Barry Spatz officiating. There will be a viewing on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. until Noon at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to either the Shriners Childrens Hospital, 3551 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 or online at www.shrinerschildrens.org or to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, 18 Wertz Dr., Pine Grove, PA 17963 in her memory.
--------------------------------------------------
.webp)
Born in Delaware, he was the son of Jason Curvey of Tamaqua and Nicole (Fritzinger) Thomas of Tamaqua.
Isaac was a 2023 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School. Following graduation, he attended Lehigh Carbon Community College and was currently a junior at Penn State University’s Hazleton Campus. He had previously been employed as summer help at Guers Dairy, where he truly enjoyed the relationships, he developed with his co-workers.
An accomplished and dedicated athlete, Isaac had a deep passion for physical fitness and an interest in physical therapy. He was an exceptional football player and was honored as a recipient of the Jeffrey Bnosky Triple D Award, recognizing Dedication, Desire, and Determination. He enjoyed weightlifting, hiking, and spending time outdoors, and had a strong interest in mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Isaac also found joy in cooking and was known for his caring and compassionate nature. He was always willing to listen and offer support to those in need. He loved his pets, including his ball python, Noodle, and his tortoise, Potato.
He is survived by his mother, Nicole Thomas and her husband Matthew; his father, Jason Curvey and his wife Theresa; two sisters, Aubrey Thomas and Samantha Koch; two brothers, Nate Curvey and his wife Alicia of Subrey, Canada, and Tyler Koch; grandparents, Daniel and Jane Fritzinger of Tamaqua, Catherine Thomas of Mary D, Fred and Marylouise Curvey of Tamaqua, Joe and Dorothy Rother of Tamaqua, and Rita and Tony Montalvo of Cherry Valley, Illinois; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Thomas.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 223 East Broad Street, Tamaqua, with the Rev. Kevin Roberts officiating. Family and friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the church.
Memorial contributions in Isaac’s name may be made to the Tamaqua Area High School Weightlifting Program, c/o Michael Hromyak, PO Box 112, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, Tamaqua.
An accomplished and dedicated athlete, Isaac had a deep passion for physical fitness and an interest in physical therapy. He was an exceptional football player and was honored as a recipient of the Jeffrey Bnosky Triple D Award, recognizing Dedication, Desire, and Determination. He enjoyed weightlifting, hiking, and spending time outdoors, and had a strong interest in mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Isaac also found joy in cooking and was known for his caring and compassionate nature. He was always willing to listen and offer support to those in need. He loved his pets, including his ball python, Noodle, and his tortoise, Potato.
He is survived by his mother, Nicole Thomas and her husband Matthew; his father, Jason Curvey and his wife Theresa; two sisters, Aubrey Thomas and Samantha Koch; two brothers, Nate Curvey and his wife Alicia of Subrey, Canada, and Tyler Koch; grandparents, Daniel and Jane Fritzinger of Tamaqua, Catherine Thomas of Mary D, Fred and Marylouise Curvey of Tamaqua, Joe and Dorothy Rother of Tamaqua, and Rita and Tony Montalvo of Cherry Valley, Illinois; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Thomas.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 223 East Broad Street, Tamaqua, with the Rev. Kevin Roberts officiating. Family and friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the church.
Memorial contributions in Isaac’s name may be made to the Tamaqua Area High School Weightlifting Program, c/o Michael Hromyak, PO Box 112, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, Tamaqua.
--------------------------------------------------
Obituaries from the past 7 Days
--------------------------
These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
