Deceased 1968 Classmates

 

The lighting of the classmate memorable candles made an impact on everyone at the reunion. Our classmate Sharon (Brode) Benack wrote the following poem that she read during the remembrance of our deceased classmates.

                   "I'm Free"

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me,
I took His hand when I heard Him call,
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play,
tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy,
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
ah yes, these things, I too, miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
don't lengthen it now with undue grief,
lift up your heart and share with me
God wanted me now, He's set me free.

NO MATTER HOW BRIEF IT MAY SEEM,
A LIFE ON EARTH HAS PURPOSE.  IT
CAN REFLECT THE WARMTH OF GOD'S
LOVE, HOLD BACK THE FORCES OF EVIL
AND BECOME A PART OF HIS GLORIOUS
KINGDOM FOREVER.

THOSE WE LOVE NEVER DIE, FOR AS 
LONG AS WE LIVE AND REMEMBER,
THEY ARE WITH US.

                          

                   

 

           

                             

 

           

                            

 

            

                           

 

          

                            

 

          

                          

 

THOMAS P. KOKURA , 58, of Bear Creek Road, Dupont, died Saturday, February 28, 2009. He was born Sept. 26, 1950, in Nesquehoning, Pa. He was a graduate of Panther Valley High School and Lehigh University. He recently retired from Luzerne/ Wyoming County MH/MR. Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Madelyn Shandra Kokura; and daughter Alexandra. He was a devoted husband and loving father, and he will be missed dearly.


A memorial service will held 6 p.m. today at St. Rocco’s Church, 62 W. Oak St. Pittston. Friends may call from 4:30 p.m. until the time of the service at church. Arrangements are being provided by Graziano Funeral Home, Pittston Township. All services will be held at St. Rocco’s R. C. Church.
Published in the Times Leader on 3/5/2009

 

Monica (DeLauretis),  Ficara BORN: November 24, 1950 DIED: June 26, 2009:  Born and raised in Lansford, PA, Monica later resided in Warsaw, IN where she married her true love and best friend, Anthony. Shortly after they relocated to New Jersey and settled in West Deptford. Monica will be remembered for her warm and generous nature with a special touch for caring for her cats and a general love of animals. Monica worked as an office manager for Lawn Doctor in Cherry Hill for the past six years. Away form her work, Monica enjoyed volunteering at the Phila. Zoo and spending time with her husband and family at their summer home in Sea Isle City. Monica will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Monica is the beloved wife of Anthony Ficara; Dear step-mother of Brian (Cindy) Ficara; Loving daughter of Elizabeth and the late Peter DeLauretis; Devoted sister of Nancy (Ed) Cole and cherished grandmother of Gabrielle and Emma Ficara. Monica is also survived by her mother in law, sister and brothers in law and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Monica's Visitation on Thursday after 5 PM in the McGuinness Funeral Home, 34 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ where a Memorial Service will follow at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.

 

 

Daniel Joseph Mundy, 62, of 134 W. Patterson St., Lansford, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, July 10, in his residence. He was the husband of Catherine (Pavell) Mundy. They celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary last August. He was employed by Cura as a dietary aid for many years until retiring in December of 2005.   Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late Hugh J. and Helen R. (Daniels) Mundy.
He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, having served as a medical specialist.
Mundy was a member and past commander of the American Legion Post and a member of St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, both of Lansford.

 Michael Lopata of Northampton, and Courtney, and her boyfriend, Peter Krajnak, of Nesquehoning; a brother Michael, and his wife, Linda (Neifert), of Coaldale; a granddaughter, Hayden Lopata; and many nieces and nephews.He was also preceded in death by a brother Eugene.
Service: Funeral service 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, Sverchek- Blazosky Funeral Home, 340 E. Bertsch St., Lansford; Mass of Christian Burial 10 a.m., St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, Lansford, with the Rev. James Sandy officiating and the Rev. Stephen J. Halabura concelebrating. Military graveside service, St. Michael Cemetery, Summit Hill, under direction of Panther Valley High School JROTC. Call 6-8 o'clock tonight and 9-9:30 a.m. Wednesday

 

Paul Yaniga International Authority on Environmental and Remediation Solutions Dies at 61. Paul M. Yaniga of Kennett Square, Pa. passed away at the Chester Co. Hospital due to a brain aneurysm Saturday morning, April 14, 2012. He was 61 years old. Paul Yaniga was co-founder of Groundwater Technology, Inc., a multi-national, publicly-traded $200 million environmental consulting and remediation firm which later merged with Fluor Daniel Corp. Mr. Yaniga was co-founder and developer of Novitrek, a joint venture for down hole selective oil recovery in the Samara, Oblast, Russia. Novitrek ultimately became part of Yukos Oil, one of Russia's leading oil companies. Mr. Yaniga also co-founded RPT, a Rome, Italy-based equipment and service company providing solutions to the petrochemical industry of southern and central Europe.
 He was a past director of SECOR, a multinational industrial service company in the petrochemical marketplace and past director of EEE, a leading-edge continuing education organization for advanced solutions for soil and geologic environments. He was a technical advisor and instructor for the Department of Defense and National Groundwater Association. More recently, Paul Yaniga was President of WISE, Ltd, an international environmental consulting company, a director of BEDCO, a US-based oil/gas field tool developer, and director of TAIC, an information and technology company servicing the DOD and Fortune 500 companies. He instructed in colleges and universities, presented professional papers and oral presentations, including an appearance before US Congress, all related to his expertise in subsurface geological matters. Paul Yaniga was born in Maine, the son of Martin and Vera Yaniga but spent his childhood and early years in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bloomsburg College with a BA in Earth Sciences and earned his Master's Degree in Geologic Sciences from Lehigh University. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Nesquehoning. Surviving is a brother, Martin G. Yaniga and his wife, Linda (Sniscak) Yaniga of Chesapeake, Va.; nephews, Dale A. Yaniga, Marty Yaniga and wife, Leslie and their daughter, Jade Marie Yaniga; and Susan B. Lawrence of Kennett Square, Pa., long time partner and friend.