Current Obituaries

Patricia Ward O'Dea

Dec 12, 2024

Patricia Ward O'Dea, 85, peacefully passed away in the presence of her loving family at her home in Wilkes-Barre on December 12, 2024. 

Born July 14, 1939 in Wilkes-Barre she was the youngest of four children of the late Joseph and Ruth Burritt Ward. 

Pat graduated from E.L. Meyers High School, where she was a majorette and gymnast. 

After marrying the love of...

Sharon Ann Mathers

Dec 9, 2024

Surrounded by her family, Sharon Ann Mathers, passed on peacefully on Dec. 9, 2024, at her home in Dallas, Pa. Lucy, her loyal dog and friend, was also by her side.

Born on June 13, 1943, Sharon grew up in Wilkes-Barre, graduating from Elmer L. Meyers High School in 1961. After marrying, Sharon moved to the Back Mountain, where she raised...

James Barnes

Dec 7, 2024

James H. Barnes, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Kingston on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Born July 23, 1932 in Selinsgrove he was a son of the late Elwood and Nora Beishline Barnes.

Jim met the love of his life, Carolyn Case, in high school. This year, they celebrated seventy-one years of marriage.

Jim honorably...

Anthony James Katra, Jr.

Dec 4, 2024

Anthony James Katra, Jr., the ten-month-old son of Kelsey Burham and Anthony James Katra of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Anthony was born with many medical challenges. He loved hanging out with his siblings at home and attended Aveanna Health Daycare during the day. Anthony was beginning to catch up to his milestones, holding his head up, rolling...

Michael J. Dennis

Oct 30, 2024

Michael J. Dennis, 71, passed away peacefully at his home on October 30, 2024.

Born February 16, 1953 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late William J. and Leanore Schrader Dennis.

Michael was an E.L. Meyers High School and LCCC Culinary Arts program graduate.

In June 1974, Michael opened the first LGBT nightclub in the City of Wilkes-Barre. Throughout his 39-year...

Rose Rogers Engel

Oct 28, 2024

Rose M. Engel, formerly of Kingston, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on Monday, October 28, 2024, at Wesley Village, less than 3 weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

Born November 14, 1924 in Wilkes-Barre she was a daughter of the late Anthony and Frances Rogers.

A 1942 graduate of Saint Leo High School, she worked as a secretary...

Viola Fazzi Centini

Oct 25, 2024

Viola Fazzi Centini, 96, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family at her home in Bear Creek on October 25, 2024.

Born Velia Fazzi on May 13, 1928 she was a daughter of the late Nello and Theresa Gross Fazzi of Bear Creek.

Viola devoted most of her life to caring for her family. She was strongly connected to...

Rose Testen Doran

Oct 23, 2024

Rose Testen Doran, a beloved member of the Hanover Township community, was born on January 2, 1937, in Wilkes-Barre. She passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the age of 87.

Rose was the daughter of the late Louis and Rose Mihelick Testen.

Rose was a graduate of Kingston High School and Wyoming Seminary Business School. She worked for Massachusetts Mutual...

Ann Marie DeVizia

Oct 22, 2024

Ann Marie DeVizia passed away peacefully on October 22, 2024, at Luther Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hatboro, where she had resided since March 2022.

Ann Marie was born in Wilkes Barre on September 22, 1945, daughter to the late Joseph F. DeVizia and Ruth Miller DeVizia.

A 1963 graduate of St. Anne's Academy, Ann Marie earned her bachelor of arts...

John Jacob Keefer

Oct 22, 2024

Retired U.S. Army Infantry Major John Jake Keefer, 86, passed away on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Born March 16, 1938 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late Donald S. and Esther Arvilla Bogart Keefer.

Jake graduated from Hanover High School in 1955, excelling at football. He continued his education at Pennsylvania Military College and King's College and later graduated from...

Robert C. Sapak

Oct 19, 2024

Robert Sapak, 68, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Born July 11, 1956 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late William and Regina Piotrowski Sapak. 

A Bishop Hoban High School, Class of 1974, and Luzerne County Community College graduate, Bob worked with his in-laws for 37 years (1977-2014) at Plymouth Poultry, earning the nickname 'Chicken Bob'....

Robert J. Heaman

Oct 17, 2024

Bob Heaman, 82, of White Haven, PA, passed away on October 17, 2024. Born on March 30, 1942, in Detroit, MI, Bob was the fourth of seven siblings--Joan (Hasselbach), Bill, Barbara (Porter), Rick, Jim, and Beth (Giroux)--born to Mary Mullen and Robert Heaman. Bob’s bond with his siblings remained strong throughout his life.

Bob graduated from St. Mary’s of Redford High...

Christie Ann O'Connor Lisnow

Oct 16, 2024

Christie Ann O'Connor Lisnow, a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend, passed away on October 16, 2024.

Born on December 14, 1978, in Wilkes-Barre, Christie moved to Dallas in her teens, where she would become a cherished member of her community.

A proud graduate of Meyers High School, Christie pursued her passion for beauty and graduated from beauty school, embarking on...

Daniel B. Gallagher

Oct 14, 2024

Daniel B. Gallagher, 94, peacefully passed away in his family home on October 14, 2024.

He was born May 25, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, the son of the late Daniel Bernard and Marguerite O'Donnell Gallagher. 

Daniel attended Meyers High School. He joined the United States Army and proudly served our country from 1952 to 1954. He spent over thirty years working for the...

Barbara Kreidler Graham

Oct 6, 2024

Barbara "Bobbie" Graham, 87, of Lake Nuangola, Pennsylvania, died on October 6, 2024. Bobbie was the daughter of Laura Trainer Kreidler and Raymond Kreidler. She grew up in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, and was the great-granddaughter of David Trainer, founder of Trainer, Pennsylvania, and the great-granddaughter of William Henry Conant Riggs, founder of Riggs & Brother, Philadelphia. 

In 1956, Bobbie married...

Arthur J. Long

Oct 3, 2024

With utmost sadness, we announce the passing of Arthur J. Long of Wilkes-Barre. In the early hours of October 3, 2024, Arthur succumbed to his struggle with his many ailments in the presence of his loving family at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Wilkes-Barre, a battle fought with the vigor of a warrior. 

Born on February 20, 1953, in Wilkes-Barre,...

William C. Ransom

Sep 25, 2024

William C. Ransom, 80, a longtime resident of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2024, near his home in Florida.

Born February 4, 1944 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late William and Marion Hall Ransom and grandson of the late Nellie and Ellwood Hall.

A 1961 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, Bill earned his degree from King's...

Charles M. Reilly

Sep 20, 2024

Charles M. Reilly, 94, recently of Wilkes-Barre and formerly of Wyoming, passed away on September 20, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Charlie was born in Ashley, the youngest of five children of the late James L. and Alice Boland Reilly. His father died when Charlie was five, and his mother and older siblings needed to work to support the family...

John J. Rollman

Sep 19, 2024

John J. Rollman, 79, a lifelong resident of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on September 19, 2024.

Born October 11, 1944 in Wilkes-Barre he was a son of the late John C. and Florence Carr Rollman.

John was a 1962 graduate of E.L. Meyers High School.

After thirty years working for the City of Wilkes-Barre, John retired as Director of Finance and Accounts in 1995.

His...

Cheryl A. Posten

Sep 12, 2024

Cheryl A. Posten, 69, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

Born December 22, 1954 in Kingston she was a daughter of the late Howard R. Posten, Jr. and Kathryn Jewell Posten.

Cheryl graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School. She worked as a dietary aide at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for several years and has recently participated in the Community...