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John L. Herb, age 92, of Schuylkill Center, Pottsville, formerly of Hegins passed away Friday, April 13, 2018 at Schuylkill Center.
He was born on Wednesday, March 10, 1926, in Spring Glen, a son of the late Ash Herb and the late Crusie M Carl Herb.
John served in the US Army during World War II from 1944-1946.
He ran a small carpet business, but most of his working career was spent in the trucking industry. He had also worked at the former Penn Reel, Hegins.
John and his wife enjoyed camping and spending time in their winter home in Daytona Beach, Florida. They enjoyed family gatherings and reunions. He also enjoyed playing cards with his family and golfing when he was able to do so. John was a sports fan and enjoyed watching various sports. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sport.
He attended St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Valley View.
His wife Martha F Shade Herb, to whom he was married for 68 years, passed away in 2013. He was also preceded in death by his parents and by a daughter, Patricia A Erdman.
He is survived by a son, Jack L Herb and his wife Jean of Hegins; three grandsons, Troy Erdman and his wife Kim of Enola, Brad Erdman and his wife Kristen of Columbus, OH, and Jeremy Erdman and his wife Nikki of Valley View; three granddaughters, Nicole Poletti and her husband Mike of Valley View, Julie Rizzardi and her husband Cory of Wesley Chapel, FL, and Amanda Horoschak and her husband Matthew of Hegins; and thirteen great grandchildren.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Valley View, with Rev. Duane Bardo officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Andrew's Cemetery, Valley View.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the John L Herb Memorial Fund, c/o St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, P.O Box 221, Valley View PA 17983
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.
-----------------------------------------Francis Vincent Ames, 86, of Tamaqua, PA died on Thursday, April 12, 2018 in Coaldale, PA.
He was the husband of the late Mary Ann (nee Pajakinas) Ames to whom he was married 51 years when she died in 2002. Born in Brockton, PA on July 9, 1931, Francis was a son of the late Michael and Frances (nee Oldinsky) Ames. A graduate of Tamaqua High School, he worked as a carpenter for Curt Bailey. A member of The Parish of St. John XXIII, Tamaqua, his original affiliation was with Ss. Peter and Paul, Tamaqua. Francis was an avid bowler, a former catcher in the Tamaqua Baseball League, and coached Little League. His daughter, Christina, describes him as the “Greatest person she will ever meet in her lifetime. Dad loved baseball and going fishing at the park. But, most of all he loved his family so very much. He was the kind of Father everyone wishes they had and will be loved forever.”
Francis is survived by his daughter, Christina Jensen and her husband, Randall of Tamaqua and sister, Joan Davis of Pittston, PA.
He was predeceased by sons, Joseph Ames and Francis Ames and brothers, Paul Ames and Bernard Ames.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, April 17 in St. John the Twenty Third Catholic Church, 266 West Broad Street, Tamaqua.
Interment in Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Owl Creek will follow the mass. Call 9-10 AM on Tuesday in the church. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
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Frances M. Klare, 85, Pottsville, died Friday morning at Schuylkill Center Genesis Eldercare, Pottsville.
Born June 9, 1932, in Boston MA, she was the daughter of the late Leon E. and Elsie M. Carter Tibbetts.
She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pottsville where she taught Sunday school. She was also a member of Boy Scout Committee- Troop 604- Port Carbon; a Girl Scout Leader; and she started the Cafeteria at the former St. Stephen Catholic School, Port Carbon.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Leo R. Klare (1997); a daughter Patricia (2006); a sister Bertha and a brother Ed.
Frances is survived by a son Richard W. Klare, Klingerstown; daughters Mary F. Purcell, St. Clair; Karen A. Moyer, Pottsville; and Theresa M. Klare, Pottsville. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; brother Donald Tibbetts; sister Doris Ford; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held 11AM Tuesday at Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home 515 West Market Street Pottsville, Pastor Alex W. DuBee, Off. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 10AM until the time of service. Private interment will be held on the grounds of Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Please visit www.schlitzerallenpugh.com to leave a condolence for the Klare family.
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Eileen Welkie, 91, of 532 South Mill Steet, St. Clair, died Thursday at Lehigh Valley Health Network – Schuylkill – East, Pottsville.
Born in St. Clair, October 5, 1926, She was a daughter of the late Paul and Emma (Stein) Harrison.
Eileen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She dedicated her life to raising her three children and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a skilled seamstress and worked for The Style Specialist and Clair Fashions Companies before starting her family with her husband.
She was a member of St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, St. Clair.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Stephen Welkie, one brother Robert and four sisters Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, and Catherine.
Surviving are her daughter Eileen Berger and her husband Jim of Warrenton, VA, two sons Stephen Welkie Jr of Groton, CT and Paul A. Welkie and his wife Christine of St. Clair, 5 grandchildren, Christopher, Elizabeth, Kyle, Justin, and Andrew, Nieces and Nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Monday from St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 250 E. Hancock St. St. Clair. The Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser will be officiating. . Friends may call from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Monday at the Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Clare of Assisi Memorial Fund. Burial will be in Queen of the Universe Cemetery, Norwegian Twp.
Bruce T. Hart Funeral Home, St. Clair, is in charge of arrangements.
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Mary Jane M. O'Connor, 78, of Pottsville, passed away on Friday morning at Schuylkill Center, Pottsville.
Born in Schuylkill Haven, on January 2, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Catherine (Collins) and Robert Curran.
She was a graduate of Nativity BVM High School and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
Mary Jane was the owner and operator of Mrs. O's Day Care, Pottsville for 15 years, retiring in 2002.
She was very active in church activities and also with the Boy and Girl Scouts.
Mary Jane was a big sports enthusiast which included the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by step-son, Robert K. O'Connor; siblings: Catherine "Kitty" Curran, Agnes Fidler, Robert Curran, William "Red" Curran, Joan Monahan, and Maureen Curran.
Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Robert R. O'Connor to whom she was married 25 years; children: Kathleen Readinger, of Reading; Patrick McCall, husband of Cheryl, of Plattsburg, NY; Erin McCall, of Schuylkill Haven; step-sons: John O'Connor, husband of Cheryl, of Hometown; Colin O'Connor, of Pottsville; and James O'Connor, husband of Tammy, of Wilkes-Barre; ten grandchildren: brothers: James Curran, husband of Avie, of Lake Villa, of IL and Leon Curran , husband of Linda, of Augusta, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, on Wednesday, April 18th, at 11:00 a.m. with Msgr. Edward J. O'Connor officiating. A viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. until time of service in church.
Interment will follow in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com
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Elsie M. Dawson, 94, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Lehigh Valley Health Network Schuylkill East.
You may send condolences to the family online at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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Linda Louise Schach, 70, of Circle Dr., Pine Grove, passed away on Friday, April 13, 2018 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.
Born on September 17, 1947 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Lucille Hoke Lehman.
She was a 1965 graduate of Pine Grove High School.
Linda was a Clerk for Bergers Market and BG's Market, both in Pine Grove
Surviving are her husband James A. Schach; a daughter, Crystal Lyn Primeau; a son, Jeffrey James Schach; two grandchildren, Hannah and Tony Primeau; a step grandchild, Zachorie Schach; a brother, Ronald Lehman; nieces and nephews.
Graveside Services and interment will be held at the convenience of the family at St. Matthew's Lutheran Cemetery, Ravine with SALM John Ziegler officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, P.O. Box 332, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. 17972 in her memory.
You may send condolences to the family online at our website www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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Joseph Romanko, 89, of North Manheim Township, formerly of Bethlehem and Clinton, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, April 13, 2018 at Seton Manor, Orwigsburg, PA, with his family by his side.
Born August 9, 1928 in Saint Clair, PA, he was a son of the late George and Anna Gulida Romanko. He was a 1946 graduate of Saint Clair High School, and was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was first employed as a machine operator for the former Union Steel Company, Metuchen, New Jersey; and later worked as a custodian for the North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, New Jersey until his retirement in 1992.
He was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Annandale, NJ prior to moving as well as a member of St. Ambrose R.C. Church, Schuylkill Haven, PA.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elaine A. Hooper, in 2012. He is also preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Dowling, Anna Schlecht, Irene Reed, Helen Dillion and brothers, George, John, and Freddie Romanko.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Josephine Gober Romanko, to whom he was married on October 5, 1957; two sons, Dr. Kevin Romanko, San Francisco, California, and Gerard Romanko, Arlington, Virginia; a brother, Martin Romanko, Colora, Maryland; a family friend, Steve Fung, San Francisco; many nieces and nephews, including his special niece Christine Romanko.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Ambrose Church, 201 Randel Street, Schuylkill Haven, on Thursday, April 19th at 10:30 A.M. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 9:15 A.M. until 10:15 A.M. Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Kostka #2 Cemetery, Branch Township. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Ambrose Church Memorial Fund or in support of your local charity.
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John P. Novack, Sr., 92, of Pottsville, passed away on Saturday at Schuylkill Medical Center – East Norwegian Street.
Born in Kaska, Blythe Township, he was the son of the late Philip Novack and the late Mary Harding Novack Hardon. He attended Blythe Township schools, and was a World War Two Army veteran. A welder by trade, he first worked for Snyder Welding, Gordon. He later worked for Aetna Steel, then for Steco Trailers.
He was a former member of Mary Queen of Peace Church, Pottsville; and was a current member of St. Patrick Church, Pottsville. He had also been a member of the Good Will Fire Company No. 4, Pottsville.
Preceding him in death was his wife, the former Mary Jean Smith, on April 1, 2005; a son-in-law, Barry Miller, on April 15, 2017.
Surviving are four children, John P. Novack, Jr. (spouse, Mary Ann), Pottsville, William Novack (spouse, Tonya), Pine Grove, Debra Miller, Cressona, and Lisa Bickelman (spouse, Joseph), Primrose, Cass Township; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Marie Nye (spouse, Donald), Kaska; nieces and nephews.
Friends may call Dutcavich Funeral Home, 200 Sunbury St., Minersville on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Interment with military honors will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, North Manheim Township.