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.

Kathleen D. Yanchunas

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • May 10, 2025
Kathleen D. Yanchunas passed away swinging like a prizefighter in the early hours of Friday morning, May 9, 2025, after a one-two punch of complications following emergency surgery on Monday. Born the fourth child of six to Joseph and Helen Dorko of McCarragher Street in the heights of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, July 5, 1943. Kathy graduated from Marymount HS and Wilkes Barre Business College. She married Joseph Yanchunas of Luzerne Pa and together they raised a family at their home in Harvey’s Lake. Kathy was beloved by her friends, family and her extended families. She loved cooking and baseball and once had a furry green hug from the Phanatic on Mother’s Day at a Phillies game in Veterans Stadium. She shared her love by kneading, baking and giving bread, and making and sharing desserts like her famous brownies and whoopie pies. She taught us how to cook, clean, make a proper bed, and joke about life. She loved her Grandchildren and spoiled them rotten, as she would say. Kathleen is pre-deceased by her parents and brothers Joseph and Thomas Dorko. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Joseph Yanchunas, siblings, Dr. Carl Dorko, William Dorko, and Helene Roccograndi; children, Joseph Yanchunas Jr. and Elisa (Lisa) Huncik; and grandchildren, Tobias and Sarah Yanchunas and Anastasia Huncik. She loved and was loved by her extended family, Bobby and Alex Wilson. Services will be held at Our Lady of Hope Church on Park Avenue in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, May 15, with viewing at 10 am followed by Mass at 11. Lunch with family and friends will follow. We love you, Darling.

Lida Jean Gabriel

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • May 10, 2025
Lida Jean Gabriel, of Hanover Township, passed away Monday, May 5, 2025, at Allied Services Hospice, Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre. Born December 18, 1940, in Kingston, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Jessie Williams Hughes. Lida Jean was a 1958 graduate of Westmoreland Senior High School, Trucksville. She was most recently employed as a front office supervisor at Orthopedic Consultants in Kingston. Lida Jean was a devout Catholic, holding membership at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Wilkes-Barre, and served as Lector, choir member and CCD teacher. She enjoyed ice cream, music, and especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and best friend, Gerald on October 24, 2020; her brother, Kenneth Hughes; granddaughter, Heather Long; and grandson, Zane Gabriel. Surviving are her sons, Brian Goode Sr. and his wife, Barbara of Plains, PA, and Mark Goode and his wife, Rachel of Cape Elizabeth, ME; daughters, Deborah Long of Kingston, PA, Jacqueline Yasenchak and her husband, Michael of Hanover Township, and Jennifer Gabriel of Hanover Township; stepchildren, Brian Gabriel and his wife, Michelle, Unknown, Kelly Gabriel of Swoyersville, PA, and Gerald Gabriel and his wife, Su of Philadelphia, PA; grandchildren, Brian Jr., Jesse, Courtney, Keira, Lucy, Julia, Quinn, Avery and Kali; great granddaughter, Braelyn; brother, Thomas Hughes of Plymouth, PA; sister-in-law Arlene Hughes of NY; and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at a date to be determined. Services were provided by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.

Joseph E. Brazinski

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • April 21, 2025
Joseph Edmund Brazinski, 73, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away April 19, 2025, at Third Avenue Health Care, Kingston. Born March 24, 1952, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Edmund and Josephine Starek Brazinski. Joseph was 1970 graduate of Marymount High School, Wilkes-Barre. Prior to retirement in 2011, he was employed by the Department of Environmental Protection on abandoned mine reclamation projects. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Theresa Cywinski in 2017. Surviving is his daughter, Miranda Brazinski; and nephews, Ryan and Scott Cywinski. Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.