Skook News Obituaries: September 30th, 2020
----------------------------------------
Mr. John J. "Jake" Kendricks, age 90, of New Boston and formerly of Shenandoah Heights, died Wednesday morning at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Born in Shenandoah he was the son of the late John and Victoria (Nolis) Kendricks. He was a 1948 graduate of JW Cooper High School and was a member of the former St. George's Church. He served with the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict era. He had been employed by Purolator in Ringtown for 32 years and last worked as a cook for the former Heights Nursing Home. He was a life member of the Heights Fire Company. He was an avid fan of Shenandoah Blue Devils football and enjoyed recalling his time on the gridiron. He was also a fan of Penn State, the Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles.
Preceding him in death in addition to his parents were his daughter Kimberley, a brother Robert and a sister Joyce Collins. Survivors include his wife of 59 years the former Patricia Singley, 2 daughters Sandra Murphy and her companion Ed of Elysburg, Jackie Backo and her husband Joseph of Morea, 2 sons Robert "Bob" his caregiver at home and Michael "Mike" of Shenandoah Heights, 7 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and canine companion Parker.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family. David D. Jarrett Funeral Home of Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements.
Please sign the guest book at www.jarrettfuneralhome.com
![]()
Rev. Fritz J. Cerullo, O.S.A, 80, an Augustinian Priest, passed away Monday afternoon at Providence Place, Pottsville.
Born in Minersville, he was the son of the late Anthony and Elizabeth Brennan Cerullo.
He was a member of The Order of St. Augustine, Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. He was ordained to the Priesthood on August 28, 1971 in St. Denis Chapel, Havertown, Pa. by the Most Rev. Peter Van Diepen, OSA, Bishop of Manokwari, Indonesia. He was a 1958 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, Brown prep, Philadelphia, received his B.A. from Villanova University and his M.A. from the Washington Theological Union, Silver Springs, MD. He also did graduate studies at Temple University, Philadelphia.
From 1971 to 1978, he served at St. Rita’s Parish, Philadelphia. In 1979 he was transferred to Massachusetts and spent the next 30 years in a variety of assignments in the New England Area to include the Development Council of the New England Region, Merrimack College, North Andover, Ma. Priestly Ministries in the Manchester Diocese to include being Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Dover, N.H.. In 2012 to 2015 he served St. Augustine Parish, Troy, N.Y. In 2015 through 2019 he was assigned to the Villanova Monastery. In retirement he lived in Florida with his brother Jim from July through December 2019. In January of 2020 he returned to his roots and moved to Providence Place, Pottsville
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother Joseph Cerullo; aunts Anna Ofsharick, Mary Brennan Dean and Emma Cerullo, Eleanor Brennan, Peggy Cerullo; uncles Thomas Brennan and William Cerullo Sr., George Dean and Andrew Ofsharick; cousins William Cerullo Jr., Betty Dean Renninger, Patricia Brennan Piccioni, Mary Roshanon and a sister-in- law, Nancy Cerullo.
He survived by a brother Jim Cerullo, Boynton Beach, Fla.; a sister Theresa Cerullo Dean Grigalonis and her husband Frank, Minersville; nephews Dr. James Cerullo, Florida and Mike Grigalonis, Cressona; a niece Denice Maurer and her husband Doug; great niece Rachel Anna Maurer and great nephew James Andrew Maurer; his “second family” Anthony Cerullo and his wife
Cindy, Allen Cerullo and his wife Mary Margaret Citron and her husband Nester and Kathy Frick and her husband Mike; cousins Diane Brennan Warner and her husband John, Jessica Harris and her husband Robert, Beth Cerullo and Mary Jo Cerullo and Attorney Martin Cerullo and his wife Linda.
Mass of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated at 11 AM Saturday at St. Michael the Archangel Church of Holy Family Parish, 539 Sunbury St., Minersville. Rev.Michael Digregorio, O.S.A, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas will officiate. Relatives and friends can call at the Church on Saturday Morning from 9 AM to 10:45 AM. Family and friends are asked to follow CDC guidelines relative to masks and social distancing. Interment will be in the Augustinian Plot of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa. In Lieu of Flowers the family would prefer remembrances of Fr. Fritz in the form of contributions to the Order of St. Augustine, 214 Ashwood Rd., Villanova, Pa. 19085 or to your favorite charity. Contributions will also be accepted at the Funeral Home. Arrangements are by the Donald J. Butler Funeral Home, Minersville, Pa. To offer condolences to the family or to light a candle in Father’s memory, visit us at www.donaldjbutlerfh.com
![]()
Dorothy Merchlinsky, 83, of Gilberton, peacefully passed away Monday, September 28 2020 at her residence with her family by her side.
Born in Maizeville, June 27, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Anna Powlick Kostingo, Sr. She graduated from the former Gilberton High School, Valedictorian of the Class of 1955.
Dorothy worked 11 years for the former George T. Lynn Contractor, Port Carbon, as a payroll secretary; she continued here career as the Church Secretary for 32 years for St. John’s and St. Michael’s Ukrainian Cathokic Church, Frackville.
She was a devout member of St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville; and was active in many church functions.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son John J. “Jack” Merchlinsky, grandson; Richard M. Lynn and a brother; Peter Kostingo, Jr.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 62 years, John J. “Jack” Merchlinsky, Sr., Gilberton; two daughters; Michelle Sluck and her husband David, Mahanoy Plane; and Cynthia Farlow and husband Robert, Ohio; son; Greg Marchlinsky, New Boston; daughter-in-law Paula Merchlinsky wife of the late Jack Merchlinsky, Jr., Gilberton; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; two brothers; Joseph and wife Mary; and John Kostingo; both of Gilberton; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, October 3, 2020, in St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, with Rev. Petro Zvarych, pastor, as celebrant. Relatives and friends are invited to visitation at the Albert L. Gricoski Funeral Home, Frackville, Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with Parastas at 7:00 p.m.; and again from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Interment will be in St. John’s Ukrainian Cemetery, Englewood/Frackville.
In Lieu of flowers donation in Dorothy’ name can be made to St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, 243 S. Middle St., Frackville, PA 17931
----------------------------------------
Born in Minersville, he was the son of the late Anthony and Elizabeth Brennan Cerullo.
He was a member of The Order of St. Augustine, Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. He was ordained to the Priesthood on August 28, 1971 in St. Denis Chapel, Havertown, Pa. by the Most Rev. Peter Van Diepen, OSA, Bishop of Manokwari, Indonesia. He was a 1958 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, Brown prep, Philadelphia, received his B.A. from Villanova University and his M.A. from the Washington Theological Union, Silver Springs, MD. He also did graduate studies at Temple University, Philadelphia.
From 1971 to 1978, he served at St. Rita’s Parish, Philadelphia. In 1979 he was transferred to Massachusetts and spent the next 30 years in a variety of assignments in the New England Area to include the Development Council of the New England Region, Merrimack College, North Andover, Ma. Priestly Ministries in the Manchester Diocese to include being Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Dover, N.H.. In 2012 to 2015 he served St. Augustine Parish, Troy, N.Y. In 2015 through 2019 he was assigned to the Villanova Monastery. In retirement he lived in Florida with his brother Jim from July through December 2019. In January of 2020 he returned to his roots and moved to Providence Place, Pottsville
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother Joseph Cerullo; aunts Anna Ofsharick, Mary Brennan Dean and Emma Cerullo, Eleanor Brennan, Peggy Cerullo; uncles Thomas Brennan and William Cerullo Sr., George Dean and Andrew Ofsharick; cousins William Cerullo Jr., Betty Dean Renninger, Patricia Brennan Piccioni, Mary Roshanon and a sister-in- law, Nancy Cerullo.
He survived by a brother Jim Cerullo, Boynton Beach, Fla.; a sister Theresa Cerullo Dean Grigalonis and her husband Frank, Minersville; nephews Dr. James Cerullo, Florida and Mike Grigalonis, Cressona; a niece Denice Maurer and her husband Doug; great niece Rachel Anna Maurer and great nephew James Andrew Maurer; his “second family” Anthony Cerullo and his wife
Cindy, Allen Cerullo and his wife Mary Margaret Citron and her husband Nester and Kathy Frick and her husband Mike; cousins Diane Brennan Warner and her husband John, Jessica Harris and her husband Robert, Beth Cerullo and Mary Jo Cerullo and Attorney Martin Cerullo and his wife Linda.
Mass of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated at 11 AM Saturday at St. Michael the Archangel Church of Holy Family Parish, 539 Sunbury St., Minersville. Rev.Michael Digregorio, O.S.A, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas will officiate. Relatives and friends can call at the Church on Saturday Morning from 9 AM to 10:45 AM. Family and friends are asked to follow CDC guidelines relative to masks and social distancing. Interment will be in the Augustinian Plot of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa. In Lieu of Flowers the family would prefer remembrances of Fr. Fritz in the form of contributions to the Order of St. Augustine, 214 Ashwood Rd., Villanova, Pa. 19085 or to your favorite charity. Contributions will also be accepted at the Funeral Home. Arrangements are by the Donald J. Butler Funeral Home, Minersville, Pa. To offer condolences to the family or to light a candle in Father’s memory, visit us at www.donaldjbutlerfh.com
----------------------------------------
Born in Maizeville, June 27, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Peter and Anna Powlick Kostingo, Sr. She graduated from the former Gilberton High School, Valedictorian of the Class of 1955.
Dorothy worked 11 years for the former George T. Lynn Contractor, Port Carbon, as a payroll secretary; she continued here career as the Church Secretary for 32 years for St. John’s and St. Michael’s Ukrainian Cathokic Church, Frackville.
She was a devout member of St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville; and was active in many church functions.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son John J. “Jack” Merchlinsky, grandson; Richard M. Lynn and a brother; Peter Kostingo, Jr.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 62 years, John J. “Jack” Merchlinsky, Sr., Gilberton; two daughters; Michelle Sluck and her husband David, Mahanoy Plane; and Cynthia Farlow and husband Robert, Ohio; son; Greg Marchlinsky, New Boston; daughter-in-law Paula Merchlinsky wife of the late Jack Merchlinsky, Jr., Gilberton; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; two brothers; Joseph and wife Mary; and John Kostingo; both of Gilberton; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, October 3, 2020, in St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, with Rev. Petro Zvarych, pastor, as celebrant. Relatives and friends are invited to visitation at the Albert L. Gricoski Funeral Home, Frackville, Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with Parastas at 7:00 p.m.; and again from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Interment will be in St. John’s Ukrainian Cemetery, Englewood/Frackville.
In Lieu of flowers donation in Dorothy’ name can be made to St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, 243 S. Middle St., Frackville, PA 17931
----------------------------------------
Born in Lancaster, August 23, 1948, a daughter of the late Sara M. Wickersham Groff.
Sharon was a graduate of the former Porter Tower High School. She retired with over 35 years of service as a supervisor of the sterilization room at the Lancaster General Hospital.
Sharon could always be found playing bingo and greeting people at the nursing home, she always dressed to impress.
Surviving are her brother, Rick Groff and his wife Alicia, Tower City; five nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. Memorial donations in Sharon's name can be made to the Tremont Health and Rehab, Activity Fund, 44 Donaldson Road, Tremont, PA 17981. The Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send condolences to the family please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com
----------------------------------------
