Obituaries

Dec 2, 2023

John J. Houseknecht, 86 passed away Saturday, December 2, 2023 at his home in St. Clair.

Born July 2,1937 in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Harry and Antoinette (Belmonte) Houseknecht.

A graduate of St. Clair High School, he went on to work in Insurance Sales and the Schuylkill County Tax Assessment Office.  ...

Nov 24, 2023

Liberty Rose Lopez, infant daughter of Jose Lopez and Amanda Berry of St. Clair, died Monday November 24 at Schuylkill Medical Center South Jackson Street Pottsville.

Memorial services service will be 2:30 Pm Saturday December 13, at the Bruce T.  Hart Funeral Home, St. Clair.

Nov 21, 2023

Christopher R. Shellhammer, 51, of St. Clair, passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at LVHN-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

Born in Pottsville on March 29, 1972, he was the son of Robert Shellhammer and the late Catherine (Strauser) Shellhammer.

Chris was a student of the St. Clair School District, graduating from Cardinal Brennan. He proudly worked at...

Nov 11, 2023

William E. Powell, 87, of Mill Creek, passed away Saturday November 11, 2023 at The Gardens at York Terrace, Pottsville.

Born in Mill Creek Manor, January 26, 1936, He was a son of the late John and Jane (Noone) Powell.

He was a graduate of Pottsville Area High School, going on to serve in the...

Nov 11, 2023

Michael Scott Zelinsky, 27, of Pottsville, died Saturday November 11 at home, Pottsville.

Born in Pottsville, February 25, 1990, he was a son of Mark and Donna Grabish Zelinsky.

He was employed  at Alpha Mills, Schuylkill Haven.

He was of the Catholic Faith.

Surviving in addition to his parents are his...

Oct 31, 2023

Donald "Ducky"  Jones , 73, of Mill Creek Manor, Pottsville, died Tuesday at home surrounded by his family.

Born in Mill Creek , February 10, 1946, He was a son of the late Charles and Susan (Leddy) Jones.

Donald served in the US Army during the Vietnam War

Ducky retired as Shovel Operator...

Oct 31, 2023

Rebecca E.  Lecher , 83, of 2100 West Norwegian Street, Pottsville, died Tuesday at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson St., Pottsville.

Born in Pottsville, May 27, 1931, She was a daughter of the late Warren  and Sarah (Thomas) Mills.

She Graduated from Pottsville Area High School.

Rebecca worked many years in the cafeteria before...

Oct 29, 2023

Ronald  M. Homa , 84, of St. Clair died Sunday at Schuylkill Center, Pottsville.

Born in St. Clair, April 29, 1932, He was a son of the late Andrew and Anna (Sweet) Homa.

Ronald  served in the Air Force during the  Korean War.

He was a retired Clerk at Indiantown Gap , Annville,...

Oct 26, 2023

Elizabeth Didjunas, 96, a lifelong resident of Mill Creek, passed away Thursday at Schuylkill Center, Pottsville.

Born in Mill Creek, Oct. 23, 1921, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Julia McDonald Hoke and widow of Edward D. Didjunas, who passed March 23, 1972.

A graduate of Saint Clair High School, Class of...

Oct 26, 2023

Maureen Fitzpatrick, 74, of  Branchdale, passed away Thursday October 26, 2023 surrounded by her family.

Born in Cressona , July 19, 1949, She was a daughter of the late Paul A. Bittle and Cecelia (O'Neill) Bittle.

She was a 1967 graduate of Nativity BVM High School.

Maureen was a dedicated mother and grandmother,...

Oct 26, 2023

Michael Kulka, 90, a lifelong resident of Saint Clair, passed away peacefully Thursday at home.

Born in Saint Clair, Sept. 26, 1924, he was a son of the late Anna Studeny and Nicholas Kulka.

He was a graduate of Saint Clair High School.

Michael served in the Army during WWII where he was...

Oct 25, 2023

Steven D. Waddell , 66, of 216 South Mill Street, St. Clair, passed away Wednesday at Lehigh Valley Health Network – Schuylkill – East, Pottsville PA.

Born in Jarrettsville, MD, August 27, 1951, He was a son of the late William and Margaret (Waddell ) Lutz.

Steven was a Welder at Burlington Homes Manufacturing, St....

Oct 23, 2023

Elizabeth Laura Culbert , 91, Pottsville, formerly of Mill Creek died Monday at Genesis Health Schuylkill Center, Pottsville.

Born on , August 28, 1924, She was a daughter of the late William  and Pheobe (Haslam) Hale.

She was a member of Pottsville Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pottsville, PA.

She was preceded in death...

Oct 23, 2023

Laura Kahudic Macola, 98, of 40 S. Nichols St., Saint Clair, died Monday at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.

Born in Morea, July 23, 1917, she was a daughter of the late John and Pauline Stanek Kunash.

She was a seamstress in the garment industry at several area factories.

Laura was a member...

Oct 23, 2023

John "Jack" G. Toner, 64, of 113 South Front Street,  St. Clair, died Monday at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, Allentown PA.

Born in Pottsville, October 28, 1949, He was the son of the late John  and Alice (Brady) Toner.

He was a 1967 graduate of Nativity BVM High School and a 1972 graduate...

Oct 23, 2023

Evelyn  C. Berdanier , 80 , of 126 South Mill St., St. Clair, died Monday at Home Surrounded by her family.

Born in Frackville, January 9, 1934 , She was a daughter of the late Anthony  and Anna (Dudonis) Wapinsky.

She retired after 33 years as a Machine operator from the former St. Clair Garment....

Oct 21, 2023

William F. Hanley Sr., 86, of Mill Creek Manor, died Saturday at York Terrace Nursing Center, Pottsville.

Born in Philadelphia, July 22, 1929, he was a son of the late William and Helen Cloran Hanley.

William F. Hanley Sr. served in the Army during the Korean War .

He was a retired exterminator...

Oct 20, 2023

Stephen  P. Welkie , 92, of 532 South Mill St., St. Clair, died Friday at Geisinger Regional Medical Center, Danville.

Born in New Philadelphia, July 29, 1923.  He was a son of Andrew and Mary (Haliski) Welkie.

As a young man he worked as a paper boy for the Pottsville Republican and in the coal...

Oct 20, 2023

Mary Kritak , 92, formerly of  Schoentown, died Friday at Golden Living Center York Terrace, Pottsville PA

Born in Woodland, February 19, 1923, She was a daughter of the late Joseph  and Kathryn (Bilovoski) Kritak.

She attended Port Carbon Schools.

Mary retired as a Machine Operator from Valents, Port Carbon.

She...

Oct 18, 2023

John "Jack" Plachko Sr., 79, of St. Clair, died Wednesday at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson St., Pottsville.

Born in St. Clair, April 16, 1934, he was a son of the late Stephen and Mary (Tomko) Plachko.

Jack retired from the former Pottsville Bleach and Dye, Port Carbon, PA, and Bill's Produce.

He was...