Francis E. Voldenberg

Born in Scranton, son of the late William and Regina Heffron Voldenberg, he was a member of St. Paul s Church, educated in Olyphant public schools, and a graduate of Olyphant High School. Prior to retirement, he was employed by Eureka Security and a printing company.
Francis was a loving father and grandfather. His greatest joy was his six granddaughters. The family would like to thank the staff of Golden Living Center for their care and compassion they showed to Francis.
Surviving are two sons, Francis J. and wife Donna, and Michael and wife Margaret; six granddaughters, Amy Kordish; Lauren, Jessica, Kelsey, Cathleen and Rebecca Voldenberg.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Kathleen, in 1986.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 9:30 a.m. in St Paul s Church, Penn Avenue. Interment, St. Patrick s Cemetery, Olyphant.
Arrangements by the McGoff-Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1401 Capouse Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.
John J. Burns
John J. (Jack) Burns, 72, a South Scranton resident, died Saturday, November 15, 2008, in VNA Hospice at CMC. He had been a resident of Mountainview Care Center for the past several years. His wife is the former Mary Joan Van Fleet.
Born Jan. 16, 1936, and raised in Scranton, he was the son of the late John L. and Kathleen Messett Burns. He attended Scranton public schools. Prior to retirement, he was employed by W.W. Norton National Book Co. for more than 40 years.
He was a member of Nativity Of Our Lord Church. He was also a member of the 4th Degree Father Joseph Barrett Assembly Knights Of Columbus Council and a Third Degree Knight in council 11019 Bishop Klonowski.
He was a Eucharistic minister at Nativity Church and volunteered at St. Francis Kitchen and Mountainview Care Center prior to his illness.
Jack was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed antique car shows and spending time with friends and traveling to new places.
Also surviving are two daughters, Kathy Harrington and husband John, Dallas, Pa., Marie McHale and husband Gene, Wynnewood, Pa, and foster son John Rivers, Scranton. Also surviving are grandchildren Casey and Conor Harrington, and Colin, Gavin and Brady McHale, and cousins.
The funeral will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. from the August J. Haas Funeral Home Inc., 202 Pittston Ave., with Mass at 9:30 a.m. in Nativity Of Our Lord Church, 633 Orchard St. to be celebrated by the Rev. Michael Bryant. Interment will be at Cathedral Cemetery. Friends may call today, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donor s favorite charity.
To leave an online condolence, visit www.augusthaasfuneralhome.com.
Melvin Cohen
Melvin Cohen, 68, of Ashley, died Tuesday evening at Hospice Community Care Inpatient Unit at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
Born Dec. 24, 1939 in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late Harry and Dorothy Novick Cohen.
He was a 1957 graduate of Plymouth High School, attended Beauty School and earned his cosmetology teachers license.
Melvin was the owner and operator of several local salons and was employed with Super Styles, Edwardsville, for the last 10 years. In addition, he had been employed as a bartender for over 20 years with the Golden Palace, Parsons.
He was a United States Army Veteran and a member of the Plymouth Rotary.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman; former wife, Joyce Troutman; and pet cats, Uba and Ilo.
Surviving are his wife of 21 years, the former Julie Stasko; daughters Cheryl Gregory and her husband, Phillip, Kingston; and Brenda Cohen-Breen and her husband, Peter, Rochester, N.Y.; six grandchildren; pet cats Sasha, Miso and Ripley Rogue.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are made by the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth.
Celia Furm
Celia Furman, 90, of Italy St., Mocanaqua, died Saturday morning, November 15, 2008, at Guardian Elder Care, Sheatown.
Born July 17, 1918, in Mocanaqua, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Simko) Yarish (Jarosz). She was a graduate of the former Shickshinny High School. She was a member of St. Mary s Church, Mocanaqua.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin J. Furman, who died June 22, 2002; two brothers, Emil and Myron; and four sisters, Stephania, Stella, Katie and Blanche. Surviving are two sons, Leonard, Hanover Township, and Richard, Exeter; a daughter, Cheryl Furman, Mocanaqua; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Mayo Funeral Home Inc., 77 N. Main St., Shickshinny, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary s Church, Mocanaqua, with her pastor, the Rev. Stephen A. Krawontka, as celebrant. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be today, from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Guardian Elder Care, 147 Old Newport St., Nanticoke, PA 18634.
For additional information, or to send condolences, please visit www.mayofh.com.
John J. Humenanski
Mr. John J. Humenanski, a guest at the Little Flower Manor, Wilkes-Barre, and formerly of South Sheridan Street, died Thursday, November 13, 2008, at Hospice Community Care Inpatient Unit at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
Born July 31, 1919, in Sugar Notch, he was a son of the late Joseph and Martha Bosher Humenanski. John attended Sugar Notch schools and was employed a short time in the area coal mines. He also worked at Central Slipper and Muskin Pools, Wilkes-Barre.
He was an Army Veteran of World War II, serving in Central Europe and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Asian-Pacific Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Medal with one Bronze Star, and the Victory Medal.
He was a member of St. Mary s Church of the Maternity, Wilkes-Barre, and the American Legion Post 815, Wilkes-Barre Township.
John was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Agnes Forish; brother Edward. Surviving is his wife, the former Leocadia (Charlotte) Dziedzic, with whom he was married 62 years; daughters Jane Loquasto and her husband, Fred Jr., Northampton, Pa.; Judith Humenanski Fumanti and her husband, David, Williamsport; grandchildren Fred Loquasto III, and Jonathan; brother Anthony, Ashley; sister Elizabeth Applegate, Hazlett, N.J.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. from the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 in St. Mary s Church of the Maternity, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The Rev. John S. Terry, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in the parish cemetery, West Wyoming.
Friends may call today, from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Far Point Collie Rescue, 1035 Red Hill Road, Port Trevorton, PA, 17864.
Josephine F. Lendacky
Mrs. Josephine F. (Bednar) Lendacky, 85, a resident of Little Flower Manor, formerly of the North End section of the city, passed into Eternal Life on Friday morning in Little Flower in the presence of her loving family.
Born May 4, 1923, in Plains Township, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Kubick) Bednar. Educated in the Plains schools, she was a graduate of the former Plains High School.
She was a member of the Catholic Community of North Wilkes-Barre. Until her retirement, she had been employed in local cigar factories throughout the Wyoming Valley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, on March 15, 2005; and by sisters Mary Serbin, Stella Armusik, Bridget Amrich; and by a brother, Michael Bednar. Surviving are her son, James, and his wife, Marcella, of Wilkes-Barre; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lendacky will be conducted on Tuesday at 10 a.m. from the John V. Morris Funeral Home, 625 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, with the Rev. David R. Betts, Parochial Vicar, officiating. Interment will be in the family lot in Saint Mary s Roman Catholic Cemetery, South Main Street, Hanover Township.
Relatives and friends may call Tuesday morning, from 9 until the time of services.
In lieu of floral tributes, memorial donations are requested in Mrs. Lendacky s memory to the resident activities of Little Flower Manor, 200 South Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
For additional information, or to send Mrs. Lendacky s family an online condolence, please visit www.JohnVMorrisFuneralHomes.com.
Paul J. Meehan
Paul J. Meehan, age 71, of Old River Road, Wilkes-Barre, passed away Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas.
Born Dec. 13, 1936 in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late John Paul Meehan and Mabel Smith Meehan of Harveys Lake. He was a graduate of E.L. Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre.
Mr. Meehan was a Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving with the United States Naval Reserves from 1954 to 1962. Prior to his retirement, he had been employed by United Cerebral Palsy Organization of Wilkes-Barre for over 10 years.
He was a member of Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church of Wilkes-Barre. He was preceded in death by sons Paul John and infant twins James and Girard; a brother, John; sister Ruth McKinney.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, the former Elinor A. Burke, with whom he celebrated his 49th wedding anniversary on June 27, 2008; three children, Denise and her husband, Timothy Higgins, of Va.; Diane and her husband, Michael Whitman, of Hanover Township; Kevin Meehan, of Wilkes-Barre Township; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Laura Williams of Harveys Lake, Charles Meehan of Ashley, Terry Meehan of Harveys Lake, Michael Meehan of Wilkes-Barre Township, Susan Meehan of Kingston; numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Therese Church, Old River Road, Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas.
Friends may call this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, 140 North Main Street, Shavertown.
Irene Mattioli Ninassi
Irene Mattioli Ninassi, 100 years old, a lifetime resident of Exeter, passed away Thursday, November 13, 2008, at her daughter s home in Sylvan Lake, Mich.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Juilio Ninassi; daughter Julia Wojciechowski; grandchildren William (Woody) and David Evans; and brothers Gino, Joseph, Armando and Ferdinand Mattioli; and a sister, Mary Meschini.
Surviving are her daughter, Ann, and her husband, William Evans, Sylvan Lake, Mich.; son-in-law Henry Wojciechowski; a brother, Primo Bartoletti, Wyoming; and two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins; and friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Memorial St., Exeter, with the Rev. Joseph Sibilano, O.S. J., pastor, officiating. Entombment will be in Denison Mausoleum, Swoyersville.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Gubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.
Florence Pawlowski
Florence Pawlowski, 90, of Tunkhannock and formerly of Warrior Run, passed away Friday at Golden Living Nursing Home, Tunkhannock.
She was born on Sept. 19, 1918, a daughter of the late Michael and Angela (Kolesa) Ziomek. She was a member of Holy Family Church, Sugar Notch, where she cleaned and decorated the church for over 35 years.
She was a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Pawlowski; infant daughter Alicia Marie; sisters Pauline Linkiewicz and Johanna Andrus; brothers Frank, Joseph, John, Walter and Victor Ziomek.
She is survived by her daughter, Norrine Thompson, and her husband, Ted, of Schenectady, N.Y.; sons Terence and his wife, Theresa, of Tunkhannock, with whom she resided for the past 2 1/2 years; Eugene and his wife, Cheryl, of Sandusky, Ohio; grandchildren Matt Pawlowski and his wife, Becky, West Wyoming; Greg and Jake Pawlowski, Sandusky, Ohio; Ian Thompson, Gainesville, Fla.
The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Brenda Goodrich, Tyler Memorial Hospital, and all the staff of Tyler, and also Asera Care Hospice of Clarks Summit and all their staff that helped with her comfort and care in her final days.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 9 a.m. from the George A. Strish Inc. Funeral Home, 105 North Main Street, Ashley, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 in Holy Family Church, Main Street, Sugar Notch, with the Rev. Vincent Dang as celebrant. Entombment will be in St. Mary s Cemetery, Hanover Township.
Family and friends may call on Tuesday, from 5 to 8, and Wednesday, from 8 until time of service. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to any of the following: Saint Joseph s Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509; Tyler Memorial Hospital, Route 6 Tunkhannock, PA 18657; Geisinger Clinic of Tunkhannock, 10 Treible Road, Tunkhannock, PA 18657; or the Golden Living Nursing Home, 30 Virginia Drive, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
Selma Ball Sondheim
Selma Ball Sondheim, of Scranton, died Saturday morning in the Jewish Home of Eastern Pa.
Born in Scranton, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Freda Rosenson Ball. She was a graduate of Marywood Seminary, and went on to study at Chamberlain College and Simmons College, both in Boston. She later graduated from Lackawanna Business College in Scranton.
She was a member of Temple Hesed and its sisterhood. She was preceded in death by brothers Atty. Herbert Ball and Dr. Myron Ball.
Surviving is a son, Robert E. Sondheim and wife Celina, of Sharon, Mass; a sister, Muriel Baltimore, and husband David, of Kingston; two grandchildren; and connemara marble rosary several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
There will be no local Shiva.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer s Association, 57 N. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, 18701, or to the donor s favorite charity.
Arrangements by Ziman Funeral Home, Inc., 612 E. Gibson Street, Scranton, 18510.
Irene M. Stawicki
Irene M. Stawicki, 92, of Noble Street, Nanticoke, passed away Saturday morning at the Hampton House Nursing Home, Hanover Township.
She was born in Hudson, Pa., a daughter of the late Joseph and Helen V. Rogowski Czekalski.
She attended Plains Township schools and evening business classes at Coughlin High School. She also was a member of Holy Trinity Church, Nanticoke. She was past President of the American Legion, Newark, N.J., and a member of Ferwood Seniors Club, Wilkes-Barre.
Irene and her husband, Stanley, were honored by Penn State University for contributing to the school s scholarship fund. Irene was employed by RCA, Harrison, N.J. at their Engineering Development Department.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley E., in 2006; and rosary making kits by brothers John Bernard, Walter, Edward and Robert Czekalski; and sister Susan Oliver. Presently surviving are brothers Thomas Czekalski, Hudson; Joseph Czekalski, Wilkes-Barre; sister Helen Duckworth, Edwardsville; several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the Grontkowski Funeral Home P.C., 51 W. Green St., Nanticoke, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 in Holy Trinity Church. Interment will be in Parish Cemetery, Nanticoke. Calling hours will be held an hour prior to the funeral.
Eleanor A. Wasileuski
Mrs. Eleanor A. Wasileuski, 81, of Duryea, passed away Friday afternoon at Wesley Village, Jenkins Township.
Born in Gilberton, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Brian and Millie Ball Wasileuski. She was a graduate of Gilberton High School and murano glass rosary attended training for nursing at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y.
She served in the United States Army Nursing Corps during the Korean Conflict. Prior to her retirement, she was employed by Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y.
She was a member of Holy Rosary Church, Duryea. She was a member of the Kings County Hospital Center Nurses Alumni Association, Brooklyn, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Pupek; and a brother, Edward. Surviving are a brother, Leonard Wasileuski; friendcaregiver Romayne Solarchik, Duryea.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church, Duryea. Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Viewing will be private at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are by the Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea.

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