Skook News Obituaries: January 21st, 2021
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Francis Joseph Hill, 90, formerly of Tamaqua, PA, died on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 in Hometown, PA. He was the husband of Vivian I. (nee Bachert) Hill to whom he was married 68 years.Born in Tuscarora on December 10, 1930, Francis was the son of the late William and Margaret (nee Farrell) Hill. He served in the Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring after 20 years of service. Post his military career, Francis was employed by Allied Chemical in Pottsville, PA. He was of the Catholic faith. Francis spent his free hours bowling.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, Francis L. Hill and his wife Susan of South Tamaqua and Robert Hill and his wife Brenda of Tuscarora, PA; daughter, Patricia Killian and her husband Ned of Orwigsburg, PA; 9 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and sisters, Margaret Prebulla and her husband George of Weatherly, PA, Regina Heffelfinger of Tamaqua, and Rita Miller of Hometown. Francis was preceded in death by daughters, Susan Johnson, Deborah Chroback, and Amy Einhouse.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment with Military Honors will take place at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA.
Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.![]()
Marie Flynn, age 89 years, of Pottsville, died of natural causes Wednesday morning, January 20, 2021 in her home in Pottsville, PA.
Born April 14, 1931, in Gary Indiana, she was the daughter of Louis Sammy of Bitola, Macedonia and Irene Theodoroff Sammy of Pleven, Bulgaria.
For many years, Marie taught music to middle school students in Pottsville. After retiring from the Pottsville Area School District, she became a music instructor at Penn State Schuylkill Campus. She was known to many for singing at civic and entertainment venues in Schuylkill County. She also performed in community opera and theater, even touring Europe in 1994 to sing in A Coal Region Opera: A Pick, A Candle and a Kiss. Marie was an active parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church in Pottsville. In 1997, she organized a trip to Rome for the joint choirs, who performed When the Saints Go Marching In for Pope John Paul II.
During her retirement years, she was a devoted, industrious and talented community leader. She taught music to her beloved children at St. Joseph Center for Special Learning in Pottsville, which included music recitals and presentations. In 2016 she was honored as the St. Joseph’s Ambassador of the Year for her years of service in the classroom and community.
Marie organized several community musical review shows at the Yuengling Mansion on Mahantongo Street in Pottsville, recruiting talented performers from her neighborhood, family and community. She was also a member of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and before the COVID- 19 pandemic restrictions, she had begun writing and rehearsing a musical program to celebrate African American history.
Marie graduated in 1953 from DePaul University in Chicago with bachelor’s and masters degrees in voice and piano performance.
She was married for 61 years to the late William J. Flynn III, the love of her life, who passed away November 3, 2014.
She is survived by her six children, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Children are: Kathryn M. Igoe and her husband William, Seattle, WA.; Elizabeth S. Flynn and her husband Roy, Cape Cod MA; William J. Flynn IV and his wife Christine, Burke VA; Michael T. Flynn and his wife Therese, Lebanon NJ; Marty L. Flynn and her husband Eric, Chicago IL, and Thomas E. Flynn, Pottsville. She is also survived by her sisters Vera Paczolt of Valparaiso, IN and Rose Yelich and her husband Steve of Walkerton, IN.
Marie will be remembered by her family and friends for her buoyant spirit and her keen sense of humor. Her Christian values were central to her life and were measured by her support of those close to her and her leadership in community service. She was a loyal Notre Dame football fan and took an active interest in current events, local and national. She was an avid, life-long reader, instilling the love of books in all who knew her. Recently she had been reading biographies of American presidents, and she called the collection of her books the Presidential Library.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist RC Church, Pottsville Rev. David Loeper, Off. Interment will be held in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Pottsville. Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Marie took great joy in teaching children with special needs. In honor of her generosity and in lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory would be gratefully received by St. Joseph’s Center for Special Learning, 2075 W Norwegian Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Please visit SchlitzerAllenPugh.com to leave a condolence for the family.
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Born April 14, 1931, in Gary Indiana, she was the daughter of Louis Sammy of Bitola, Macedonia and Irene Theodoroff Sammy of Pleven, Bulgaria.
For many years, Marie taught music to middle school students in Pottsville. After retiring from the Pottsville Area School District, she became a music instructor at Penn State Schuylkill Campus. She was known to many for singing at civic and entertainment venues in Schuylkill County. She also performed in community opera and theater, even touring Europe in 1994 to sing in A Coal Region Opera: A Pick, A Candle and a Kiss. Marie was an active parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church in Pottsville. In 1997, she organized a trip to Rome for the joint choirs, who performed When the Saints Go Marching In for Pope John Paul II.
During her retirement years, she was a devoted, industrious and talented community leader. She taught music to her beloved children at St. Joseph Center for Special Learning in Pottsville, which included music recitals and presentations. In 2016 she was honored as the St. Joseph’s Ambassador of the Year for her years of service in the classroom and community.
Marie organized several community musical review shows at the Yuengling Mansion on Mahantongo Street in Pottsville, recruiting talented performers from her neighborhood, family and community. She was also a member of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and before the COVID- 19 pandemic restrictions, she had begun writing and rehearsing a musical program to celebrate African American history.
Marie graduated in 1953 from DePaul University in Chicago with bachelor’s and masters degrees in voice and piano performance.
She was married for 61 years to the late William J. Flynn III, the love of her life, who passed away November 3, 2014.
She is survived by her six children, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Children are: Kathryn M. Igoe and her husband William, Seattle, WA.; Elizabeth S. Flynn and her husband Roy, Cape Cod MA; William J. Flynn IV and his wife Christine, Burke VA; Michael T. Flynn and his wife Therese, Lebanon NJ; Marty L. Flynn and her husband Eric, Chicago IL, and Thomas E. Flynn, Pottsville. She is also survived by her sisters Vera Paczolt of Valparaiso, IN and Rose Yelich and her husband Steve of Walkerton, IN.
Marie will be remembered by her family and friends for her buoyant spirit and her keen sense of humor. Her Christian values were central to her life and were measured by her support of those close to her and her leadership in community service. She was a loyal Notre Dame football fan and took an active interest in current events, local and national. She was an avid, life-long reader, instilling the love of books in all who knew her. Recently she had been reading biographies of American presidents, and she called the collection of her books the Presidential Library.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist RC Church, Pottsville Rev. David Loeper, Off. Interment will be held in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Pottsville. Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Marie took great joy in teaching children with special needs. In honor of her generosity and in lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory would be gratefully received by St. Joseph’s Center for Special Learning, 2075 W Norwegian Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Please visit SchlitzerAllenPugh.com to leave a condolence for the family.
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His working career included being a purchasing agent and assistant manager at Speed Space Corporation in Tamaqua, an employment interviewer with the Office of Employment Security in Pottsville, and foreman with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resource Management in Pottsville working to extinguish the Keely Run mine fire, and the Forestville bank fire. He was also a foreman for Fleetwood Modular Homes, as well as a manager for McKinley Carpets. George also worked for the Public Welfare Department in Tamaqua, and briefly for the Federal Government. He was also a supervisor devoted to the polls every election day for very many years.
In 1972, George received a citation from The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives for his exemplary citizenship and generous service to others during the aftermath of the Hurricane Agnes Flood, which devastated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. He worked under the jurisdiction of Governor Milton J. Shapp and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. During that time, he worked in Pittston helping countless people.
He was a life long member of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in Mahanoy City, where he was a member of the church choir, and then served as Cantor for many years. George was also a member of BPOE 695 of Mahanoy City, American Legion Post 74 also of Mahanoy City, and the Greek Catholic Union. He was a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, as well as a serving in the officer roles of Deputy Grand Night and Grand Knight.
Preceding him in death were his brothers and sisters Stephen, Nicholas, Michael, Harold and Andrew Kohan, and sisters Mary Litchko and Leona Peel. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Christine Scislaw, a son Gary Gydush and his wife Becky of Pequea, PA, and a daughter Karen Czarniecki and her husband Jim of Orlando, FL.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Tina and Joel Czarniecki, Sandy Cline and her husband Brandon, Justin Czarniecki and his fiancé Raelynn, Kim Long and her husband Andrew, Greg Gydush, Emily Urbanski and her husband Frank, great grandchildren Titus Cline, Andi Long, and Penny Urbanski, as well as nieces and nephews. A private Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. James Carroll, with interment in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville. David D. Jarrett Funeral Home of Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements Please sign the guestbook online at www.jarrettfuneralhome.com.
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Dolores M. Noonan, age 79, of Frackville and formerly of Mahanoy City, died Tuesday night at Broad Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation in Frackville.
Born in Mahanoy City she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Getz) Lehigh. She was a member of St. Teresa of Calcutta Church in Mahanoy City and had been employed as a secretary for Dr. Setlock.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edward F. Noonan in 1994 and 2 brothers Gerald and Jack Lehigh. Survivors include a son Edward and his wife Susan of Catawissa, two grandchildren Brian Noonan and his wife Rachel Anne and Rachel Noonan and her companion Jonathan Cheatdom and a cousin John Ellis.
A memorial Mass will be announced in the future. David D. Jarrett Funeral Home of Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements.
Linda G. Dominitis, 63, of Shenandoah, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street.
Services and interment in Annunciation BVM Cemetery, Shenandoah, will be private at the convenience of the family. Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements.
Antoinette A. (Cugusi) Opella, 96 a former resident of West Coal Street, Shenandoah passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.
Born in Shenandoah on April 5, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Salvadore and Mary (Rossi) Cugusi.
She worked in the local garment industry and retired from the former Alma Dress Factory, Shenandoah.
Antoinette was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah and the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Surviving are one son, Edward J. Opella and his wife Rosemary of Mahanoy City; one daughter, Diane Jacobs and her husband Michael of Copperas Cove, Texas; four grandchildren, Nadine Burke, Michele Floyd, Edward A. Opella & Natalie Phy; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Burke, Logan Burke and Landon Phy; three brothers, Louis Cugusi of Mahanoy City, Jack Cugusi of Mahanoy City and Joseph Cugusi and his wife Joann of Frackville; two sisters, Anna Gottstine of Shenandoah and Isabelle Fornito of Connecticut; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents were her husband, Edward S. Opella on March 8, 1989; two brothers, Carmen and Dominic Cugusi; and three sisters, Jean Benashunas, Mary Hogan and Angelina Tite.
Funeral services and interment will be private at the convenience of the family in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements.
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Services and interment in Annunciation BVM Cemetery, Shenandoah, will be private at the convenience of the family. Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Antoinette A. (Cugusi) Opella, 96 a former resident of West Coal Street, Shenandoah passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.
Born in Shenandoah on April 5, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Salvadore and Mary (Rossi) Cugusi.
She worked in the local garment industry and retired from the former Alma Dress Factory, Shenandoah.
Antoinette was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah and the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Surviving are one son, Edward J. Opella and his wife Rosemary of Mahanoy City; one daughter, Diane Jacobs and her husband Michael of Copperas Cove, Texas; four grandchildren, Nadine Burke, Michele Floyd, Edward A. Opella & Natalie Phy; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Burke, Logan Burke and Landon Phy; three brothers, Louis Cugusi of Mahanoy City, Jack Cugusi of Mahanoy City and Joseph Cugusi and his wife Joann of Frackville; two sisters, Anna Gottstine of Shenandoah and Isabelle Fornito of Connecticut; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents were her husband, Edward S. Opella on March 8, 1989; two brothers, Carmen and Dominic Cugusi; and three sisters, Jean Benashunas, Mary Hogan and Angelina Tite.
Funeral services and interment will be private at the convenience of the family in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin Street, Shenandoah is in charge of the arrangements.
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