Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
William J. Webb Jr.
William J. Webb Jr., 86, of 618 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, died Thursday morning in the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville, following a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Margaret (Rooney) Webb. They were married for 60 years.
He was the borough's former fire chief and was the oldest member of the Good American Hose Company, where he held various offices, including president.
Born in Mahanoy City, he was a son of the late William Sr. and Amelia (Matruder) Webb and had lived in Mahanoy City his entire life.
He hauled coal and ice for the Good American Hose Company, Mahanoy City, for many years, and later became an independent hauler.
He also worked for the former Kaiers Brewery and the General Cigar Factory, and last worked at the St. Nicholas Breaker.
Webb attended Mahanoy City schools and was a member of St. Fidelis Catholic Church and the Senior Citizens, both of Mahanoy City.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, William J. III of Shenandoah; two brothers, Raymond and Donald, and a sister, Hilda Feichtner, all of Mahanoy City; two granddaughters, two great-grandsons and nieces and nephews.
Walter Bobowski
Walter Bobowski of 33 W. Cherry St., Tresckow, died Thursday morning in the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of Anna (Goblick) Bobowski. They were married for 56 years.
Prior to retiring, he was a miner at the Hazleton Shaft.
Born in Hazleton, he was a son of the late Jacob and Magdelena (Strenk) Bobowski.
He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Tresckow, and the Tresckow Fire Company.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Walter L. of Tresckow; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, Stanley, Joseph and John; and two sisters, Mary Sobon and Julia Gallo.
Mrs. Helena Coladonato
Mrs. Helen Coladonato, formerly of 914 N. Church St., Hazleton, died Thursday morning in the St. Luke Manor, Hazleton, where she resided. She was the widow of Rocco Coladonato, who died in 1980.
She was a retirer interior designer and also taught adult interior design education at Hazleton High School.
A former Girl Scout leader, she was named Mrs. Hazleton in 1957.
Born in Lansfgord, she was a daughter of the late Luka and Maeia (Majcan) Scrbacic.
She was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Hazleton, where she was a Christan Mother and a past president of the Our Lady of Grace PTA.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Neil (Lucia) Longo of Sybertsville, Mrs. Walter F. (Maria) Smith of Drums and Mrs. Edward (Dina) Tobias and Mrs. Lewis (Monica) Astorino, both of Hazleton; a brother Luke of Summit Hill; five sisters, Lucy Reese and Maryanne Whitehead, both of Hatboro, Mrs. Joseph (Katherine) Puskar of Lansford, Agnes Erbe in Arizona and Mrs. John (Dorothy) Yanoshik of Lofty; nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. John Zelonis Jr.
Mrs. Mary Zelonis of 305 Woodland Road, Brockton, died Thursday afternoon in the Pottsville Hospital. She was the wife of John Zelonis Jr. They were married for 50 years.
She was last employed in the garment industry.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Kasik) Foremsky.
She was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Brockton, and the Middleport American Legion Post 144 Auxiliary.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Mary C., wife Kurchock of Pottsville; two sons, John A. and Joseph, both of Brockton; and seven grandchildren.
The last member of her immediate family, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Bradbury; and three brothers, Michael Bobal, John Foremsky and Joseph Foremsky.
The Thomas J. Bartashus Funeral Home, New Philadelphia, is in charge of the arrangements.
Joseph Baran
Joseph Baran, 73, of 318 W. Front St., Lansford, died Tuesday in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. He was the husband of the late Mary (Valent) Baran who died in 1988.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late Joseph and Anna (Gawlick) Baran.
He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lansford.
Before retiring, he was a amaintenance supervisor for St. Joseph High School, Edison, N.J.
A World War II veteran, he served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and received the Purple Heart medal for being wounded in action.
Surviving are five sisters, Agnes Sterusky and Florence Sverchek, both of Lansford; Sister Joselle of Shenandoah, Catherine, wwife of Jack Bortnick of Coaldale, and Lori, wife of Court Granger of Allentown; one brother, A. Paul Baran of Odenton, Md. Also nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, John, Michael, Stanley, Mieczslaw, and Rev. Joseph Baran, and two sisters, Stella Lake and Marian Baran.
The Roche Funeral Home-McNamara Chapel, Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph A. Wasas
Joseph A. Wasas, 68, of Brigantine, N.J., and Nesquehoning, died Wednesday in Glenside. He was the son of the late Gabor and Mary (Perger) Wasas of Nesquehoning.
He attended Sacred Heart School in Nesquehoning, and graduated from St. Ann's High School in Lansford.
He later graduated from Columbia School of Broadcasting, attended Scranton University, and served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53, and was stationed in Germany.
He worked as a radio announcer at Lansford Station W.L.S.H., at a Stroudsburg radio station and a Hershey FM radio station.
Later he was employed 30 years by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Employment Security with job assignments as Unemployment Compensation Supervisor in Stroudsburg, Norristown, and the Upper Darby areas.
He retired in 1991.
He was a member of St. Thomas Church in Brigantine and St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Glenside.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Evelyn Gazel and Isabel W. Zickler, both of Nesquehoning, and Dr. Mary Gay Ducharme of San Francisco, Ca. Also, 24 nieces and nephews, six grandnieces and nephews, three great grand nieces and nephews and companions Howard Yopp of Glenside, and ArthurSchwartz of Harrisburg.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, The Rev. T. Arthur Wasas, Adolphe Wasas and John Wasas, and one sister, Therese Matula.
The William R. May Funeral Home, Inc., Glenside, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sylvester Vavra
Mrs. Helen Vavra, 68, of 121 First St., Coaldale, died suddenly on Sunday morning in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. She was the wife of Sylvester Vavra. They observed their 46th wedding anniversary in May.
Prior to retiring seven years ago, she worked in the garment industry, having worked at the former Van Huesen Factory, Coaldale, and the former Joe Star's Factory, Lansford.
Born in Coaldale, she was a daughter of Mrs. Mary (Zenzel) King of Coaldale and the late Wash King.
The deceased was a member of St. Mary Russian Orthodox Church, Coaldale, and the Ladies Aid Society and the Christmas Bazaar Committee, both of the church.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are two daughters, Karen, wife of Matthew Nichols of Lehighton, and Lisa of Nesquehoning; a son Dennis of Coaldale; four brothers, John, Wash, Nicholas and Russel, all of Coaldale; and seven grandchildren.
The John Puschak Funeral Home, 208 First St., Coaldale, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert M. Dennis
Robert M. Dennis, 74, of Allentown, died Sunday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of the late Margaret (Dovenspike) Dennis.
He was a crane operator for the Fuller Company, Allentown plant, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1986.
Born in Mauch Chunk, he was a son of the late John E. and Bertha H. (Fritz) Dennis.
He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Surviving are two stepsons, Donald Miller of Sharpsville and Harry Miller of Sharon, both in Mercer County; a stepdaughter, Norma Bogert of Allentown; a brother James of Summit Hill; two sisters, Marie Lippchalk of Weatherly and Betty Ann Durnin of Emmaus; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Richard P. Kearney
Richard P. Kearney, 45, of 3230 Grandview Drive, Whitehall Township, died Sunday in his home. He was the husband of Patricia A. (Pristash) Kearney. They observed their 13th wedding anniversary in June.
He was a warehouse supervisor for the former Hess's Distribution Center, Whitehall, for 20 years.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of Mrs. Marie (Otto) Kearney of Bethlehem and the late John Kearney.
He was a 1975 graduate of Kutztown University, where he majored in economics and lettered in golf for four years.
Kearney won numerous golf tournaments in the Lehigh Valley, including the inaugural Gallagher Golf Tournament in Slatington. He was a medalist in the 1973 Lehigh Invitational Golf Tournament and the 1971 Green Pond Inner-City Team Championship.
He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whitehall.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are two daughters, Meghan M. and Jessica A., both at home; and a brother, John L. of Allentown.
Mrs. Hilda S.E. Beers
Mrs. Hilda S.E. Beers, 90, of Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township, formerly of Walnutport, died Sunday in the Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem. She was the widow of Franklin J. Beers.
Born in Pennsville, she was a daughter of the late Andrew P. and Minnie I. (Rinker) Reph.
She was a member of Zion Stone United Church of Christ, Northampton.
Surviving are a daughter, Mildred E. Warnken of Slatington; three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Joseph John Kerbacher
Joseph John Kerbacher, 69, of 3246 W. Walker Drive, Bath, died Monday in the St. Luke Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Angelica (Todora) Kerbacher. They observed their 43rd wedding anniversary in July.
He was a mechanic for the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, Allentown, for 21 years before retiring in 1993.
Born in Coplay, he was a son of Mrs. Mary (Schrammel) Kerbacher of Bath and the late Joseph Kerbacher.
He was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Berlinsville.
Kerbacher was a member of American Legion Post 470, Bath, its bowling league and the Petersville Rod and Gun Club, and a life member of the Roosevelt Democratic Club, Danielsville, and the Northampton Liederkranz.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a daughter Debra, wife of Jerry Yenser of Northampton; three brothers, Stephen, John and Richard, all of Bath; three sisters, Margaret, wife of John Hudsco of Northampton, Anna, wife of Donald Rosenberger of Old Zionsville, and Frances, wife of Emerick Nagy of Nazareth; and two granddaughters.
Irvin J. Beltz
Irvin J. Beltz, 99, of Allentown, formerly of Reading and the Hazleton area, died Monday morning in the hospice unit of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.
He retired in 1963 after working for more than 35 years as a tool and dye maker for Reading Textile at its Wyomissing plant. In his early teens, he was employed in the Hazleton area as a bicycle messenger for Western Union.
Born in Quakake, he was a son of the late Jacob and Louisa (Halderman) Beltz.
He was of the Protestant faith.
The last member of his immediate family, he is survived by nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Laura Hagenbach and Florence McLaughlin; and two brothers, Howard and Edgar.
