Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Myrna L. Bates
Myrna L. Bates, 70 of Honesdale and formerly of Middletown, NY died Friday, October 16, 2009 at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin R. Bates.
Born September 14, 1939 in Port Jervis, NY she was the daughter of the late Fred and Helen Paddgent Cox. She was a waitress at a Little Caesars Restaurant. Myrna was an avid Bingo and Yhtzee player. She enjoyed photography, sightseeing and animals, especially horses.
Surviving is her son Richard Bates and wife Carrie of TN; a daughter Lorie Bates of Honesdale; a brother Roger Costic of PA; a sister Shelby Decker of NC; grandchildren Melvin Lewis, Dana Jr., Jessica, John and Toni Bates and Keri and Jeri Decker; 3 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son Dana Bates Sr.; daughters Cindy Lewis and Melinda Bates; a grandson Nelson Lewis Jr. and a granddaughter Helen Lewis.
As per her request, cremation was held at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory. A memorial service will be held at Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Thursday at 7:30 PM. The family will receive friends from 5 to service time. Interment will be in Middletown at a later date.
Michael Kenneth Landers Sr
Michael Kenneth Landers Sr., 64 of Honesdale, died Sunday, October 18,
2009 at his home. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, the former Barbara Williams. The couple married October 14, 1967.
Born July 15, 1945 in Honesdale, he was the son of the late James J.
and Eva Mae Gregory Landers. Over the years, he worked at Wayne Motors, Darwar Silk Mill, Kinsmans and retired from Penn Dot where he was a welder. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish.
Mike was a "jack of all trades," enjoying fishing, camping, playing guitar and welding. He was well known for making things like a guitar for his son and built drill that could drill a well.
Also surviving is his son Michael Landers Jr. and wife Tammy of Honesdale; a brother James A. Landers of Honesdale; sisters Mary Honcharik of WV and Kathleen Landers of Honesdale; brothers in law David and Roy Williams of Honesdale; sisters in law Darlene Hendershot and Pearl Myers of Honesdale; grandchildren Michael A., Stacy L. and Nicole L. Landers; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother Allan Landers Sr. and a sister Suzanne Marie Duallo.
A Blessing Service will be held on Thursday at 10 AM at Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may visit on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8.
Margaret "Dolly" Mullen Rossbach, 93 of Honesdale and formerly of
White Mills, died Friday, October 16, 2009 at her daughters home. She
was preceded in death by her husband William F. Rossbach on December
21, 2002. The couple married September 16, 1944.
Born May 18, 1916 in Philadelphia she was the daughter and last
surviving member of Bartley and Margaret Kennedy Mullen family. She
was raised in Carbondale and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High
School. In 1949 she and her husband moved to White Mills. There she
was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church and the White Mills Fire
Dept. Ladies Auxiliary. A housewife and mother, she and her husband
trained horses and she was a member of the US Trotting Association.
Dolly enjoyed bowling and spending time with her family.
Surviving are her sons Charles Rossbach and wife Patty of Honesdale
and William "Bumby" Rossbach Jr. of Ballston Spa, NY; a daughter Cathy
Naneus of Honesdale; grandchildren Emilie, Marie and Renee Rossbach;
nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Gus, Jack and George Mullen
and sisters Nan and Dagmar Mullen.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Honesdale at 10 AM. Interment will
follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive friends on
Tuesday in church from 9 to service time. Arrangements by Hessling
Funeral Home
Isabella Helen Kaczka
Isabella Helen Kaczka, 73, of Lakewood, died Wednesday October 14, 2009 at Wayne Memorial Hospital following an illness. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph J. Kaczka on October 24, 1998. The couple married December 19, 1970.
Born March 28, 1936 in Honesdale, she was the daughter and last surviving member of the Elias and Laura Carey Hedgelon family. She began working at Sherman Mills in Hawley and later retired from Kelly's Home for Adults in Narrowsburg where she was a cook. After retiring, she moved to Las Vegas and later returned to Lakewood after becoming ill. Isabelle enjoyed arts and crafts and recently enjoyed ceramics.
She was a caring and compassionate person who was dedicated to her family. She will be remembered for how she enjoyed life and how she took pleasure in the little things in life.
Surviving are her daughters Dorothy Backlund of Raleigh, NC, Bobbie, Kathleen and Katrina Kaczka all of Lakewood; 4 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; a friend and neighbor Billie Prince who she loved and cared for as a daughter and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Richard, Robert and Donald Hedgelon.
As per her request, there will be no visitation or funeral services.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Northern Wayne Fire and Ambulance, PO Box 253, Lakewood, PA 18439.
Arrangements by Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale, PA 18431.
Mary Ann Hart
Mary Ann Hart, 72 of Bethany, died Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at her home after an illness. She was preceded in death by her husband James E. Hart on November 28, 2003. The couple married October 26, 1957.
Born November 13, 1936 in Jersey City, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Edward P. and Josephine Fitzsimmons Shugrue. She was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School in Jersey City, class of 1954. After moving to Honesdale, she and her husband owned and operated Hart's Cafe on Main St.. Later she worked at the Miracle Market and retired from the Wayne County Courthouse where she was the operator. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale.
Mary Ann enjoyed following her grandchildren around to their numerous sporting activities. At home she enjoyed cutting her grass and taking care of her yard.
Surviving is her daughter Marilyn Henderson and husband Richard of Honesdale; her sons James Hart Jr. of Columbia, MD and Edward Hart and wife Nancy of Honesdale; grandchildren Norman, Jessica and Christopher Henderson and Timothy, Stacey and Patrick Hart; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother Edward T. Shugrue.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at noon at St.
John the Evangelist Church in Honesdale. Interment will follow in St.
Mary's Cemetery. Friends may visit the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale today (Thursday) 4 to 8.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 712 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor, PA 18517.
Helen D. Hook
Helen D. Hook, 94 of Honesdale, died Sunday, October 11, 2009 at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter C. Hook Sr.
Born April 9, 1915 in Archbald, PA she was the daughter and last surviving member of the late Frank and Martha Gay family. After graduating high school, she did beautician work with her husband and also worked at Wayne Memorial Hospital as a nurses aid. Helen was a longtime volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and also volunteered at the Earl Simons Senior Center in Honesdale. She enjoyed crocheting and crossword puzzles.
She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish and its Altar and Rosary Society.
Surviving is her son Walter C. Hook and wife Darla, RN of Audubon, PA; grandchildren Christopher and Alexa; a great granddaughter Kaleigh; a niece and 4 nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother Walter, Stanley, and John Gay and a sister Susan Wilhelm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM at St. Mary Magdalen Church. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may visit the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Friday from 3 to 5.
David L. Dexter
David L. Dexter, 73 of Honesdale, died Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at Hershey Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Mary Kerl. The couple married August 9, 1958 at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Honesdale.
Born October 10, 1935 in Honesdale and raised in Hawley, he was the son of the late Howard and Elsie Skinner Dexter. A graduate of Hawley High School, class of 1953, he later attended Lackawanna Jr. College.
He was a US Navy veteran serving as a hospital corpsman in Newport, RI. He began working on the Erie Railroad and later worked for 34 years at Katz Underwear Factory. Later he retired from Wayne Highlands School District where he worked in maintenance.
An avid golfer, he was a member of the Cricket Hill Golf Club for many years. A sports fan, he enjoyed playing in the Wayne County Softball League and bowled in different bowling leagues. David enjoyed relaxing by reading and was well known for his good nature sense of humor. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale.
Also surviving is his son Thomas Dexter of Honesdale; a daughter Susan Judge and husband Kevin of Lansdale, PA; a sister Gloria Kostige of Citrus Springs, FL; grandchildren Stephanie and Andrew; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Church at 11 AM. The family will receive friends in church from 10 to service time. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St. New York, NY 10016.
Robert John Hafner
Robert John Hafner, 74 of Honesdale and formerly of Scranton, died Thursday, October 1, 2009 at
Wayne Memorial Hospital. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, the former
Margaret "Peg" Flanagan. The couple married April 18, 1959.
Born September 30, 1935 in Scranton, he was the son of the late Carl and Genevieve
Conaboy Hafner. He graduated from South Catholic High School in Scranton and attended
night school at the University of Scranton. A long time resident of Honesdale, he worked
for A.M. Skier Agency for more than 40 years. Bob was a member of St. John the
Evangelist Parish and until recently was a participant in the parish's Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration. He was a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Council
363 in Honesdale.
He was an avid golfer who enjoyed playing the game with either his wife Peg or his
numerous friends. He was a member of the Honesdale Golf Club and the Friday morning
Cricket Hill Golf League. In his younger days, he also had great fun coaching teams in
the Honesdale Biddy Basketball and Little League Baseball.
He will be missed dearly by family and friends.
Also surviving are his sons Rob and wife Pam of Newtown, PA, Mark of Cumru, PA, Chris of
Honesdale and Michael and wife Elizabeth of Mt. Laurel, NJ; brothers Joseph Carl and wife
Geraldine of Scranton, Patrick and wife Sharon of Tobyhanna; grandchildren Caitlin,
Tierney, Kathleen, Christine, Brendon and Robert Joseph; nieces and nephews and other
family members.
He was preceded in death by his sister Annjuan Hafner.
The Hafner family wishes to extend its gratitude and appreciation to all the staff at
Wayne Memorial Hospital, especially the doctors, nurses and staff of the 3rd floor. Bob
could not have found better or more skilled people to care for he and his family.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church in
Honesdale. As per his request, cremation will follow at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory.
Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton. Friends may visit the Hessling
Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Sunday from 2 to 5.
In lien of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Honesdale
Food Pantry, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Assoc. or your favorite
charity.
Virginia Havens
Virginia Havens, 97 of Bethany Village, died Friday, September 18, 2009.
She was born July 17, 1912 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter and last surviving family member of
the late Walter Burr and Mary Grady Havens. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist
Parish.
She is survived by cousins and friends at Bethany Village.
She was preceded in death by her sisters Laura Farrell and Ruth Havens.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at St. Mary Magdalen Church in
Honesdale at 10 AM. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
