John Albert "Janek" Emanski

  • John Albert

John Albert "Janek" Emanski

John Albert "Janek" Emanski died Sunday evening, August 22, 2021 at Allied Nursing Home, Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA, five weeks after celebrating his 95th birthday at the General Hospital with family members. He was a member of our Lady of Hope Parish, formerly St. Mary's Church of the Maternity.


Janek was born on July 13, 1926 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, to Leon and Victoria Jendrzejewski Emanski. His step-father was Thomas Luzack. He graduated from GAR Memorial High School, Wilkes-Barre, PA.


He entered the Navy upon Graduation and was immediately assigned to work with Morse Code on the USS Langley. When Janek became 21 in 1947, he became the owner and Proprietor of Emo's Cafe, E Northampton Street. Emo was his nickname in school.


He sold the business in 1963 and moved with his Mother, Victoria and sister, Mary to Brooklyn, New York where he spent the rest of his life until his retirement.


He worked at many Elite businesses such as the Irving Trust Bank on Wall Street and the Carlyle Hotel, NY City. He was a very popular Waiter and Maître De and became friends with many Movie Stars and Dignitaries. He retired from the Carlyle at 86 years old.


He was a man of many talents. He attended Wilkes College as an Art Major and also studied with his brother, Bernard and became a popular Artist and Sign Painter. He used his talents as a Sign Painter for many years doing Signs for his Parish.


Other talents was his MEMORY up until the end. Not only birthdays but all Historic Events. Was very famous for his Comedic Talents and had a reputation for these talents in the Navy and among professional Comedians at the Carlyle, Yacht Parties and family functions. Some of the Comedians even used his jokes.


He was a Bachelor and never had children. So, his Nieces and Nephews were like his children.


He was proceeded in death by his Brothers: Bartholomew, Leon, Bernard, Joseph and Thomas. And, his Sisters: Marta, Anna, Lottie and Mary. Deceased Nephews: John and Frank Grohowski.


He is survived by his Nieces and their Spouses: Ann Marie Emanski and husband, Peter D. Bruno; Marianne Grohowski Peters; and, Carol Ann Emanski and husband, Dominick Marronaro. Nephews and Spouses: Joseph L. and wife, Dolores Ryan Emanski, Bernard J. and Kathryn Zurek Emanski and Thomas and wife, Susan Barney Emanski.


He is also survived by many Great Nieces and Nephews. The Emanski Family has quite a heritage story. Janek is the end of an era in the Emanski-Jendrzejewski Family.


Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:00am from the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am at Our Lady of Hope parish, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The Reverend John S. Terry, Pastor, will be Celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Mary's Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call Thursday evening from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the funeral home.

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.