Betty Ann Porzuczek

  • Betty Ann Porzuczek

Betty Ann Porzuczek

Betty Ann Porzuczek, age 78, of Wilkes-Barre Township, passed away peacefully at home on April 7, 2022. Betty was born on Aug. 22, 1943, in Benton, Iowa, where she lived on her family farm until college. Betty was a music major at the University of Iowa where she earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts.


Betty realized her lifelong dream of pursuing music and teaching professionally upon starting her first teaching position at University of Nebraska following graduation. While teaching at University of Nebraska, she met the love of her life, Edward Porzuczek, and moved to Wilkes-Barre to get married and continue her music teaching and performing career at Misericordia University. Betty was a talented musician (piano and organ) and a dedicated, hard-working, and compassionate teacher who encouraged all her students to achieve their full creative and artistic potential. Betty was a beloved professor at Misericordia who served as a teacher, performer, accompanist, mentor, leader, friend and colleague. Betty taught and developed courses ranging from music performance to music theory to world fine arts. She touched the lives of hundreds of students throughout her career. Upon retirement from her 46-year career at Misericordia, Betty was bestowed with the honor and rank of Professor Emerita.


In addition to her role as professor, Betty had numerous musical accomplishments and awards. Her passion and dedication to the fields of music and fine arts was demonstrated through her membership and leadership roles in the Pennsylvania Music Federation, the Mozart Club, American Guild of Organists, Misericordia Chorale Society, organist and choir director at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, as well as performing as a soloist and accompanist locally and regionally. One of Betty's fondest memories of her teaching years is her annual trips to New York City to perform with her choral group at St. Patrick's Cathedral.


Aside from her love of music and arts, Betty's greatest love was her husband Edward of 53 years, her three children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Betty will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a gentle, kind, loving and funny woman who loved to lead family singalongs and share childhood stories of growing up on her family farm with her parents and six siblings. Most of all, Betty will be remembered as a wife, mother, sister and friend who could always be counted on to be there for her loved ones' joys and sorrows, highs and lows, and successes and failures. Betty had a significant positive impact on many, many lives and will be deeply missed.


Betty is survived by her husband of 53 years, Edward Porzuczek; children MaryEllen (Mike) Mennett, Michael Porzuczek, and David Porzuczek; grandchildren Alyssa, Ariel, Makenzie, Mikayla, Madeleine and Matthew; great-grandchildren Caydence, Jonah and Levi. She is preceded in death by her parents Doris (née Anderson) and Chester Wallace.


Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. from the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 N. Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at noon in St. Nicholas Church, 226 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. Family and friends may call Monday evening at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m.

At the family's request, please consider a donation to Shriner's Hospital in Betty Porzuczek's name in lieu of flowers.

Joseph Alan Wasnalas

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • August 4, 2025
Joseph Alan Wasnalas of Wilkes-Barre Township, passed away unexpectedly at home on August 2, 2025. Born April 8, 1986, he was the son of Diane Gulczynski Wasnalas and the late Stanley Alan Wasnalas. Joe graduated from G.A.R. Memorial High School, Wilkes-Barre, and attended Luzerne County Community College. In his younger years, Joe played baseball and football. Joe also loved fishing with his dad and friends. Later, Joe took up golfing and went every chance he had. Joe was an active member of the Sons of the American Legion, Post #815, Wilkes-Barre Township, and he helped run the Republican Club as a volunteer for many years. When Joe's father passed, he stayed home and took care of his mother, always watching out for her. Joe was the apple of her eye. He was preceded in death by his father, Stanley Alan Wasnalas on December 17, 2014, and sister, Michelle L. Mulcahy on February 9, 2025. Joe is survived by his mother, Diane; sister, Wendy and brother-in-law, John Stair; brother-in-law, Paul Mulcahy; nieces, Kayla Stair, Kellie Stair, Morgan Mulcahy; nephews, John Alan Stair, and Cole Mulcahy; great niece, Jayla Stair. Joe will be deeply missed by family members and friends. He will always be missed by his friend, Elsa, his dog. Joe was loved and cherished by all his immediate family. Although our hearts are broken, we know he is with his dad and sister, whom he missed very dearly. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 8:00pm at the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre. The Reverend Vincent Dang will be officiating. Family and friends may call Wednesday evening from 6:00 until time of services.

Arthur Searfoss

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • August 1, 2025
Arthur Searfoss, of Buck Township, PA, passed away at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, shortly after greeting his newest great grandchild on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Born October 13, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Andrew and Mamie Glasson Searfoss. Arthur was a 1948 graduate of Laurel Run High School and was an Army Veteran of the Korean War. He was employed at Central Slipper Shoe Company, Wilkes-Barre, for 20 years, and worked as a trans filler at Liquid Carbonic, Laurel Run, for 22 years. Arthur was a member of Laurel Run Primitive Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret in 2011; daughter Margaret Dianne Searfoss brothers, James, William, Richard, and Jerry Searfoss; sisters, Elizabeth Kohlis, Bessie Zendzon, and Mamie Dominick. Surviving is his daughters, Donna Marie Olson of Parsons, PA, Carrie Jo Searfoss of Buchanan, GA, and Robin An McGrady of Rockmart, GA, grandchildren, Heather Sibert of Greenville, NC, Brian Sibert of Connecticut, Michael McGrady of Mountain Top, PA, Lindsey Garrity of Shavertown, PA, Jamie Olson of Port Charlotte, FL, Billy Olson of Wyoming, PA, April Olson of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Brooke Stepanski of Parsons, PA; 7 Great Grandchildren, sister, Joan Searfoss of Laflin, PA; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 6th, at 10:00am at the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton. Friends may call Wednesday morning from 9:00am until time of services.

David J. Potorski

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • August 1, 2025
David Joseph Potorski I was born July 29, 1960, in Millstone (Somerset County) New Jersey, to Joseph Francis Potorski and Eleanor Leszczynski (Letinski) Potorski, and was raised as Catholic. On July 30, 2025, David joined his parents and one of his sons in Heaven. David graduated from Steinert High School in N.J. in1978. He was employed by Florence N.J. Road Department, then as a contractor, lastly to his parents as a caregiver. A key Scripture verse that represents David’s life is from 1 Samuel 16:7. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Also in 1 Samuel 13:14, the name David is referred to as, “A man after God’s own heart.” David is remained by his brother Joel John Potorski and wife Diane. And his sister Carol-Ann Marie Potorski, his two sons, David Joseph Potorski II who passed in 2010, and Joseph Daniel Potorski, his granddaughters, Ariana and Zofia Potorski, his nieces and spouses, Rebecca and husband Justin Wright, Noelle Potorski, Melanie M. and husband A.J. Pillette. As David met his Maker, he experienced 2 Peter 3:8: “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” As David entered his Eternal Home, the Lord greeted him with “Welcome my Beloved!” Private funeral services were held by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre. A Celebration of David's life will be held by family on the West Coast.