Philip J. Gesiskie
Philip J. Gesiskie, 68, Philadelphia, formerly of Mahanoy City, died Thursday morning at Plymouth House Health Care Center, Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County.
Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Bolie and Anna (Budravich) Gesiskie, a 1951 graduate of Mahanoy City High School and an Army veteran, having served in Germany.
He resided most of his life in Philadelphia and had been employed by Tasty Kake, Philadelphia.
Mr. Gesiskie was a former member of Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, was a sister, Catherine Gesiskie, 2000.
Surviving are a brother, Vincent Gesiskie, Waymart; nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend services to be held Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. from the David D. Jarrett Funeral Home, Second and Pine streets, Mahanoy City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Casimir’s R.C. Church, Mahanoy City.
Interment will be private and held in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. There will be no calling hours Friday.
Contributions in the name of the deceased to St. Casimir’s R.C. Church, 113 S. Catawissa St., Mahanoy City, Pa. 17948, would be appreciated.
Condolences may be e-mailed at jarrettfuneralhome@hotmail.com.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
Mary Kelley
Mary Kelley, a former resident of the Hazleton Apartment Complex, 319 W. First Street, died Thursday morning at Mountain City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a guest the past several years.
Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late James S. and Rose (Fitzpatrick) Kelley, and was a lifelong area resident.
She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, and a past member of the Women’s Guild of the parish.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, was a brother, James Kelley.
Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Her funeral will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home Inc., 532 N. Vine St., Hazleton, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Gabriel’s R.C. Church.
Interment will follow in Calvary cemetery, Drums.
Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
Emily D. Selig
Emily D. Selig, 91, 326 Roland Ave., Pottstown, died Wednesday afternoon at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.
Born in Hazleton, Sept. 24, 1911, she was the daughter of the late John and Anna (Novotny) Drevenak, a member of First United Church of Christ, Nescopeck, and the Ladies Aide Society of the parish, and a homemaker.
A Nescopeck resident since 1976, she had earlier lived in Clinton, Md., and was a former member of Bell’s Methodist Church, Camp Springs, Md. Since November 2000, she has lived with her sister, Loretta Brobst, at the Pottstown address.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, Robert F. Selig, April 13, 1987; sisters, Mary Zellers, Margaret Eroh, Anna Hons and Helen Burger; and brothers, George and John Drevenak.
Surviving, in addition to her sister, with whom she resided, are nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. from the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, with the Rev. Richard Dennison, her pastor, officiating.
Burial will follow in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.
Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 10 to 11 a.m.
Contributions to the memorial fund of First United Church of Christ, 832 E. Third St., Nescopeck, Pa. 18635, would be appreciated.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
John Baran
John Baran, 86, 160 Berwick St., Beaver Meadows, died Thursday morning at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Born in Centown, he was the son of the late Andrew and Mary (Zeleznock) Baran, a lifelong Beaver Meadows area resident and an Army veteran of World War II.
Prior to retiring, he was the produce manager for Baran Markets, Beaver Meadows.
He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Beaver Meadows.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were a brother, Wassil A. Baran; and sisters, Anna Zulick and Mary Sentiwany.
Surviving are a daughter, Elaine Kassak, Wood River, Ill.; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; brothers, Michael A. Baran, Beaver Meadows; Andrew Baran, Weatherly; and George Baran, Middlesex, N.J.; and sisters, Ellen Latack, Roseville, Mich.; and Dorothy Goffredo, Bangor. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral will be held at a time to be announced from the John J. Pusti Funeral Home, 480 W. Broad St., Hazleton.
Interment will take place in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. A Parastas service will be conducted that evening.
Donations to Ss. Peter and Paul’s B.C. Church, Beaver Meadows, Pa. 18216, would be appreciated.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
Julia D. Kobelka
Julia D. Kobelka, a registered nurse and a former resident of 536 Centre St., Freeland, died Wednesday afternoon at Butler Valley Manor, Drums.
Born in Freeland, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Mizenko) Balon.
A graduate of Freeland High School, she received her nursing degree in 1934 from the Allentown School of Nursing, and prior to retiring, had been employed at White Haven Center.
She was a member of St. Casimir’s Roman Catholic Church, Freeland, and the choir of the parish; the Allentown Hospital Nurse’s Association and P.A.R.SE.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, Michael Kobelka, 1967; brothers, John and Joseph Balon; and sisters, Anna Bradish and Mary Petrilli.
Surviving are her brother, Stanley Balon, Freeland; her niece and caregiver, Marianne Herbener, Hazleton; nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Saturday at 8:30 a.m. from the McHugh-Wilczek Funeral Home, 249 Centre St., Freeland.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. in St. Casimir’s R.C. Church.
Burial will follow in St. Casimir’s cemetery, Freeland.
Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The Freeland R.C. Community Bereavement Committee will conduct a Christian wake service.
Contributions may be made to Hospice Saint John, 123 N. Vine St., Hazleton, Pa. 18201, or St. Casimir’s R.C. Church, in care of 898 Centre St., Freeland, Pa. 18224.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
Frank J. Galgay
Frank J. Galgay, 14 S. Second St., Frackville, died Thursday morning at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville.
Prior to retiring in 2000, he was executive director of The Anthracite Health and Welfare Fund, Hazleton.
Born in Somerville, Mass., he was the son of the late William F. and Mary C. (Tierney) Galgay, and a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Frackville, where he’d been a lector for numerous years.
A naval veteran of World War II, he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations.
Memberships included American Legion Post 87, Cambridge, Mass.; Disabled American Veterans, Southern Schuylkill County Chapter 77; a member and former president of Schuylkill County Easter Seal Society, former executive director, National Easter Seal Society; a member of Knights of Columbus, Father James A. Hogan Council 2580, Frackville; a member of the Men of Malvern; and “Sportsfan of the Year, ” a distinction awarded in 1983 by Cardinal Brennan Junior/Senior High School, Fountain Springs.
He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by a brother, the Honorable Judge John Galgay.
Surviving are his wife of 48 years, the former Madeleine Koury; daughters, Marian Halko, Beverly Kelly and Dottie Brennan, all of Ashland; and Honora Jankowski, Berwick; brothers, James, Belmont, Mass.; William, Dennisport, Mass.; George, Winthrop, Mass.; and David, Newton, Mass.; a sister, Rosemary Lowrie, Dennisport, Mass.; 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. from the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Frackville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Frackville, with the Rev. David W. Karns, pastor, as celebrant.
Interment will take place Tuesday, at the convenience of the family, in Indiantown Gap National cemetery, Annville.
Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Donations to Good Samaritan Foundation, 700 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville, Pa. 17901, would be appreciated by the family.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
Edward G. Kerlavage, Sr.
Edward G. Kerlavage, Sr., 78, formerly of 131 S. Wylam St., Frackville and a resident of Manor Care Health Services, Pottsville, died Wednesday, at the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic, Pottsville.
Born in Frackville on April 17, 1924, he was the son of the late Anthony and Amelia Kerlavage.
He was a retired, self-employed tavern owner in Frackville. He was also employed by the Valley Golf Course, Barnesville; the Charles Roben Factory, Frackville; and as a steward at the Ashland Elks.
Mr. Kerlavage was a member of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church and 35-year member of the Frackville Elks.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were brothers, Albert, Joseph, Anthony and Charles; and sisters, Mary Patrick and Helen Rhoads.
Surviving are a son, Edward G. Kerlavage, Jr., Frackville; a daughter, Jean Kane; and two grandchildren.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 9:30 a.m. from the Nice-Hart Funeral Home, Inc., 9 North Lehigh Ave., Frackville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Dominik Kalata at 10 a.m. in Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary R.C. Church, 7 S. Broad Mountain Avenue, Frackville.
Interment will be in the St. Louis cemetery, Maizeville.
Friends may call Friday at the funeral home from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
(Dated Friday, November 08, 2002)
