Hazleton PA Online Obituary Service

James W. Furmanchin

 

James W. Furmanchin, 71, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008, at the Hazleton General Hospital.

A son of the late James Francis and Mary Agnes (Dinsmore) Furmanchin, he was born on April 2nd, 1937, in Hazleton, but he resided in Weatherly for most of his life.

He was a 1955 graduate of Weatherly High School. He served four years in the United States Navy, from 1955-1959, serving 18 months in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was a member of the 1958 NAS Flyers Championship baseball team.

He was married in 1959 to Carol (Young) Furmanchin, and they would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in October.

They lived in New Jersey for 13 years where he was employed by Kentile Tile Company. Upon returning to Pennsylvania in 1972, he began working in the ice cream industry, a career he enjoyed for the rest of his life. For the last 14 years, he was happily employed at Leiby's Dairy in Tamaqua.

Jim was a devout member of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, now Our Lady of Lourdes, in Weatherly.

He gave 15 years of service to Weatherly Little League as a coach, treasurer, manager, and Little League president. He was instumental in the building of the Little League field at the Weatherly Elementary/Middle School.

He was also an avid supporter of Weatherly High School football as a founding member of football booster club, where he held the offices of treasurer and president.

Jim was a die-hard, lifelong Yankees fan, and he loved to hunt.

He loved watching his grandkids play sports, perform or do anything, and he was never happier than when surrounded by a houseful of his family.

In addition to his wife Carol, Jim is survived by his brother and lifelong friend, William, who resided with him since 1972.

He is also survived by six children and eight grandchildren: James Jr. and his daughter Kayla of Hazleton; John and his sons Jason, Ryan, and Corey, and his fiancée Desi and her children Crystal and Bree of Weatherly; Jeffrey and his wife Sandy and their children Jeffrey and Hilary of Weatherly; Joseph and his fiancée Bernie of Drums; Jerold of Hazleton; and Susan (Furmanchin) Kline and her husband Jim and their daughters Lauren and Abigail of Danville. He is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Roscoe.

Father Floyd Caesar will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, September 8th, 2008, at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Weatherly.

Jim's family will receive visitors at the church before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to: Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 318 Plane Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255 are encouraged.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Stephen W. Papincak

Stephen W. Papincak, 87, of Weatherly and formerly of Alter Street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, died at Mountain City Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hazleton on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008.

Born in Junedale on May 30th, 1921, he was the son of the late Stephen George and Mary (Bodnar) Papincak.

He was a member of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church in Hazleton.

Stephen was a veteran of World War II having served in the Army as a staff sergeant in the Transport Detachment at the Panama Canal.

Prior to retirement, he was a supervisor of maintenance at the Hazleton Area Vo-Tech School.

Stephen loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed horse racing.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Miriam G. (Hanley) Papincak in 1997 and brothers Andrew and John.

Stephen is survived by his son Stephen Jr. and his wife Donna of Weatherly, PA, with whom he resided; brothers Joseph and Robert Papincak, both of Weatherly; and sister Margaret Mirynowski and her husband John of Union, NJ. Granddaughters Alicia and Bethany Papincak and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Services will be from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA on Friday, September 5th, 2008, at 9:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church at 10:30 AM. Rev. Floyd Caesar will officiate.

Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Friday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service. A Christian Wake Service will be conducted Thursday evening.

Donations in Stephen's memory may be made to: The American Cancer Society, 33 West Ridge Street, Lansford, PA, 18232.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Mary Empetro

Mary Empetro, 82, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, passed away Saturday, August 30th, 2008, at Weatherwood in Weatherly.

Born in Hazleton on March 22nd, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Mary (Dougherty) Reinmiller.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Weatherly.

Before retiring, Mary worked as an assembler at Thorn Engineering in Hazleton.

Mary is survived by her husband Michael; brothers James and Raymond Reinmiller of Hazleton, PA; sister Judith Goldian of Hazleton, PA; sisters-in-law Agnes Rimshaw of Drifton, PA and Jenny Pfeiffer of Northumberland, PA. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Services will be from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 10:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church at 11:30 AM. Rev. Floyd Caesar will officiate.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A Christian Wake Service will be conducted during the calling hours.

Private burial will be in the parish cemetery at the convenience of the family.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Josephine Dunn

Josephine Dunn, 101, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, passed away at Weatherwood in Weatherly on Sunday, August 24th, 2008.

Born in Lattimer Mines on July 21st, 1907, she was the daughter of the late Raphael and Joanne (DeLitto) LaGrosse.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Weatherly.

Before retiring, Josephine worked at the Tung-Sol plant in Weatherly for 36 years.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Peter L. Dunn in 1992.

Josephine is survived by the following nieces and nephews: Annie Clark of Fort Walton Beach, FL; Marceline Adams and James LaGrosse, both of Niceville, FL; and Joseph Daniels and Ronnie Dunn, both of Glen Olden, PA. Several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews also survive.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008, at 11:00 AM, from Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 318 Plane Street, in Weatherly. Rev. William Onushco will be the celebrant.

Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Thomas F. Hametz

Thomas F. Hametz, 86, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, died while playing golf Friday afternoon at the Mountain Valley Golf Course in Barnesville.

Born in Beaver Meadows on January 24th, 1922, he was the son of the late George and Anna (Sullin) Hametz.

He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Beaver Meadows. He was also a member of the church choir.

After graduating from Hazleton High School in 1939, Thomas joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build roads in Arizona and Wyoming. He was then employed by the shipyards in Baltimore, Maryland, before enlisting in the Navy, where he participated in minesweeping operations with the first United States forces to enter Japan.

Tom furthered his education at Wilkes and Penn State Universities. Prior to retirement, he was employed at Tung-Sol as a supervisor and later at RCA.

Tom was an expert woodworker and gardener, and he loved solving mechanical problems.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers John, Michael and George, twin brother Joseph, and sisters Anna and Mary Pennock.

Tom is survived by his wife Patricia (Burke); son Timothy and his wife Anne of Edinboro, PA; son and best buddy Nick; daughter Lisbeth of Hazleton, PA; brother Robert of Burtonsville, MD; granddaughters Katharine Grau and her husband Rob, Jessica and Lauren; and great-granddaughter Kendall. Also, nieces Sandra, Jean, Karen, Diane, and Janette; nephews Mark and Thomas Pennock; and aunt Martha Lonzinski of Hazleton, PA.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 26th, 2008, at 9:30 AM, from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA.

The Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM from Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 119 Berwick Street in Beaver Meadows. Rev. Peter Donish will be the celebrant.

Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Parastas service will be conducted at 7:00 PM.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Ernest Rupp

Ernest Rupp, 56, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, at Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital in Lehighton.

Born in Germany, he was the son of Ellen (Rupp) Barrada of Weatherly.

Ernest formerly resided in New York City where he worked as a hairdresser and bicycle messenger.

Ernest's passion was bicycles. He enjoyed riding in the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Even after his liver transplant, he participated in organized bicycle events in the New York City area.

He was preceded in death by his stepfather Edward Barrada.

Services are private at the convenience of the family.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Ruth Marilyn Weichman

Ruth Marilyn Weichman, 78, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, passed away Sunday, August 17th, 2008, at the Hazleton General Hospital.

Born in Weatherly on January 1st, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Walter D. and Ruth H. (Erdman) Snell.

Marilyn was a member of Salem United Church of Christ in Weatherly.

Prior to retiring, she worked as a home health aide, at Tung-Sol in Weatherly, and at local clothing factories. She also was a security guard with Star Security in Weatherly.

Marilyn was a steward at the Weatherly American Legion Post. She was recording secretary for the Weatherly Friendship Senior Citizens.

Marilyn enjoyed cooking, sewing, and telling jokes.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Raymond C. Weichman Sr. in 2000.

Marilyn is survived by sons Ray Jr. and his wife Linda, Paul and his wife Jacqueline, and Stephen and his wife Andrea, all of Weatherly; a daughter, Terry Weichman of Berwyn, PA; brothers Walter Snell of Weatherly, PA and David Snell of Lemont, PA; and grandchildren Denise, Holly, Colton, Desiree, and Chase Weichman. Nieces and nephews also survive.

Services will be on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, at 11:00 AM from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly. Rev. Fredericka Beauchard, Marilyn's pastor, will officiate.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Interment will be in Union Cemetery in Weatherly.

Donations in Marilyn's memory are requested to: Salem United Church of Christ Tower Fund, 3rd and Fell Streets, Weatherly, PA, 18255.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Aretta "Rita" Eroh

Aretta "Rita" Eroh, 76, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, died Tuesday, August 12th, 2008, at her home.

Born in Weatherly on October 24th, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Vernon and Ellen (Pakola) Strohl.

She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Hazleton.

Prior to retiring, she was employed by Weatherwood in Weatherly.

Aretta and her husband loved to travel. They traveled extensively around the entire country.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Margaret Larzelere, Janet Fields, and Eleanor Pfeiffer, and her brother Paul Strohl.

Surviving are her husband Henry, to whom she was a devoted wife of 60 years; sons Philip and his wife Catherine, and Ronald and his wife Amy, both of Weatherly, PA; daughters Alice Gudanowski and her husband Bruce of Mountain Top, PA, and Sharon Adrian and her husband Joseph of Reno, NV; a brother Oscar Strohl of Freeland, PA; and a sister Ruthann Campbell of Toms River, NJ. 13 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews also survive.

Services will be held from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, on Saturday, August 16th, 2008, at 11:00 AM. Rev. Ryan Day, Rita's pastor, will officiate.

Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Weatherly.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of the services.

Donations in Aretta's memory may be made to: The American Cancer Society, 33 West Ridge Street, Lansford, PA, 18232.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Eugene J. Griesing

Eugene J. Griesing, 64, of Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, died Friday, August 8th, 2008, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Born in Hazleton on May 2nd, 1944, he was the son of the late Peter and Lottie (Ohlanoski) Griesing.

An Army veteran, he served in Vietnam as a staff sergeant in Recon and Intelligence. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation medals.

Gene was a member of the American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

He worked at Sandusky Metals, Dorr-Oliver, and the Hazleton Area School District.

Gene is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judith (Field) Griesing and a brother Thomas of Toms River, NJ. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 360 of Weatherly.

Private graveside services will be conducted in Union Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Rev. Donald J. Stump will officiate.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.

Alma S. Yeager

Alma S. Yeager, 83, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, passed away at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice Unit in Allentown on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008.

Born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania on September 4th, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Edwin and Martha (Siegel) Smith.

Alma was Lutheran and she was a former member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Southampton, Pennsylvania.

Alma was a 1941 graduate of Hazleton High School.

A registered nurse, Alma graduated from the Hazleton State Hospital School of Nursing. She was a surgical nurse in the operating room at Germantown Hospital for many years.

Along with her parents, Alma was preceded in death by her husband Herby Yeager in 2005.

Alma is survived by sisters Thelma Kew of Weatherly, PA, Jane and her husband Carlo DeMarco of Dallas, TX, and Dorothy and her husband Don Diefenderfer of State College, PA. Nine nieces and nephews also survive.

Sister Janet Stump will conduct a graveside service in Saint John's Cemetery on Saturday, August 9th, 2008, at 11:00 AM.

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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.