Current Obituaries
Local Obituaries for Wilkes-Barre, PA, Luzerne County, & Surrounding Areas
John Joseph Anstett
Apr 24, 2026
The most wonderful husband, father, and friend died peacefully in his sleep after a brief illness on April 24, 2026.
John J. Anstett, 84, born September 19, 1941, was the son of Leona C. (Kisslo) and John N. Anstett of Wilkes-Barre.
John was a 1959 graduate of St Nicholas High School, a 1970 graduate of King's College earning a degree in Business...
Alexander Lee Stolarik
Apr 21, 2026
Alexander Lee Stolarik ,70, passed from this life to his next on April 21, 2026. Born April 11, 1956, in Wilkes-Barre, a son of the late Alexander and Ruth Lamoreaux Stolarik, he lived all his life in the Wyoming Valley area.
Alex graduated from Nanticoke High School and served in the United States Army, where he earned badges in rifle sharpshooter...
Bernadine Ann Kovalchik
Apr 18, 2026
Bernadine Ann Kovalchik, 98, died on April 18, 2026, at Greenbriar Assisted Living in Dallas. She spent many years at Greenbriar and received exceptional care there. The staff at Greenbriar, led by dedicated nurse manager Cheryl Howach, cared for our mother as if she were their own. In addition, many warm thanks must be expressed to Dr. Nirode Das for...
Evelyn M. Gibbons
Apr 15, 2026
Evelyn Gibbons, formerly of Exeter, PA, died peacefully on April 15 at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas, where she had been a resident since June 2025. Evelyn was born on October 27, 1940 in Nesbitt Hospital to Victoria Turoski and John Hudyck, both Exeter schoolteachers. Her mother, Victoria, immigrated from Bialystok, Poland, in 1908, and Evelyn took pride in being...
Dorothy Claherty
Apr 13, 2026
Dorothy Ann Claherty, 96, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family at her home on April 13, 2026.
Born November 27, 1929 in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Phillip and Dorothy Foroza Melleski.
Dorothy loved watching Lawrence Welk and the Polkas on Saturday nights. She spoke Polish fluently. Most of all, she loved spending...
Diane Camille McCabe
Apr 8, 2026
Diane Camille McCabe of Exeter passed away on April 8, 2026.
Born in Nanticoke, she was a daughter of the late Stephen and Joan Lipka.
Diane was a graduate of Northwest High School and the Wilkes-Barre Area CTC School of Nursing.
Diane was employed by Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre for many years before changing careers. After graduating from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Academy,...
Kathleen Dudish
Apr 7, 2026
Kathleen Dudish, 69, of Larksville, died unexpectedly at home on April 7, 2026.
Kathy was born on January 21, 1957, in Edwardsville. She was a beloved sister to Carol, Barbara, and Ray, and graduated from Bishop O’Reilly High School in 1974.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Helen Swaintek Sabecky, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Marion Dudish,...
Richard E. Gazenski
Mar 23, 2026
Rick Gazenski, 76, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Rick was a 1968 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, where he excelled in basketball. He attended King’s College before launching a highly successful career in the insurance industry, beginning with Aflac, then Metropolitan Life, and the Frantz and Benjamin Agency. He later partnered with Rob Hoban to...
Catherine Gaughan Gilroy
Mar 22, 2026
Catherine Gaughan Gilroy, 91, of Washington Square in Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Born July 29, 1934 in Sugar Notch she was a daughter of the late Michael J. and Alberta Boyer Gaughan.
Catherine was a woman who loved life, laughter, and people. Though 91, she remained young at heart and...
Margaret Cherpak Elias
Mar 17, 2026
Margaret Cherpak Elias, 93, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully at Allied City Center on March 17, 2026.
Born in Wilkes-Barre on October 1, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Adam and Mary Kita Cherpak. She was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, and she worked for many years at RCA in Mountain Top. She was a lifelong...
Stanley Joseph Rovinski
Mar 16, 2026
Stanley Joseph Rovinski, 66, of Hanover Township, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Born July 12, 1959 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late Stanley A. and Rita Desiderio Rovinski.
A graduate of Hanover High School, Stanley worked for Franchelli Enterprises and PG&W for several years before venturing out as an independent masonry contractor.
His brothers, David and Mark Rovinski,...
Pamela Kady Gurtis
Mar 13, 2026
Pamela Kady Gurtis, 59, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family on March 13, 2026, after a courageous 5-year battle with cancer.
Born September 20, 1966, in Manassas, Virginia, Pam was the daughter of Travis Zeiler Kady and the late Thomas Francis Kady, who shaped her into the person she was and the loving Mother...
Joseph G. Sakelaridos
Feb 15, 2026
Joseph Sakelaridos, Joe Sak, 84, of Sugar Notch and formerly of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on February 15, 2026.
Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, Joe was a son of the late Michael and Anna Casper Sakelaridos.
A lifelong member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Joe’s faith and heritage were central to who he was. He was a proud graduate of Meyers High School,...
Kathleen Mimnaugh Stetler
Feb 14, 2026
Kathleen Mimnaugh Stetler, 66, of Palmerton, passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Born December 21, 1959 in Colonia, New Jersey she was a daughter of the late John F. and Carol Ann McLoughlin Mimnaugh.
A loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, Kathy dedicated her life to raising her family and working with the children of others while teaching at daycares and...
Rita Thomas
Jan 21, 2026
Rita Shea Thomas, 87, a longtime resident of Kingston, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
Born April 10, 1938 in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Leo and Mary Farrell Shea.
Rita was a graduate of E.L. Meyers High School and retired after many years as a seamstress in the local garment industry.
Rita was devoted to God, to her...
Donna B. McLaughlin, O.D.
Jan 13, 2026
Dr. Donna Biernacki McLaughlin, 70, of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family at her home on January 13th.
Donna was born on February 5, 1955, in Ashley to Alice and Dr. John Biernacki. She was the devoted wife of Dr. William McLaughlin Jr. for forty-six years, with whom she built a beautiful life. She was...
Mary Patricia Rundle
Jan 1, 2026
Mary Patricia Rundle, 80, of Mountain Top, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family on January 1, 2026.
Born November 23, 1945 in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Donald Philip and Mary Agnes Elmy Dailey.
Mary retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center after thirty-nine years as a nursing assistant and eligibility clerk.
Mary enjoyed...
Betty Jane Toole
Dec 31, 2025
Betty Jane Toole passed away in the presence of her loving family on December 31, 2025, one day shy of her 91st birthday.
Born in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Flynn Mullen.
Betty Jane graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1952. Thereafter, she began employment as a valued member of the trust department at Second...
Mary Louise Hoolick
Dec 27, 2025
Mary Louise Ward Hoolick, 96, a longtime resident of Lower Askam, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
Born December 22, 1929 in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Joseph Aloysius and Catherine Sweeney Ward.
She was a graduate of Saint Mary’s High School in Wilkes-Barre.
Mary Louise was employed as a bookkeeper at the J.B. Post Company where she...
Judith Lea Smith
Dec 27, 2025
Judith Lea Smith, "Judy", 83, of Wilkes-Barre, unexpectedly passed away at home on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
Born October 21, 1942 in Wilkes-Barre she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Ann Jackson.
Judy was a graduate of E.L. Meyers High School, Class of 1960.
Judy worked for Bell Telephone, Telephone Answering Service, and Mercy Hospital. She was a 'lunch lady' at...
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