Margaret F. Shilinski

  • Margaret F. Shilinski

Margaret F. Shilinski

Margaret F. Shilinski, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Monday, November 8, 2021, under the care of The Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Northeast PA.


Born September 24, 1926, in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Susan Hrivnak Ciris. Margaret was a 1944 graduate of Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre, and was employed as a seamstress at Leslie Faye for many years.


She was a member of St. Andre Bessette parish community and the I.L.G.W.U. Margaret was preceded in death y her husband, Chester on December 18, 1992; son, Stanley Shilinski; sisters, Ann Rusak and Mildred Vernagis; and nephew, Robert J. Rusak.


She will be deeply missed by grandchildren, Alyssa Gilmartin and her husband, Ian of Harding, PA, and Jason Shilinski and his wife, Sara of Brackney, PA; great grandchildren, Alyssandra and Aiden Gilmartin and Blake Shilinski; several nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 11:00am at St. Andre Bessettte parish, 668 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Dallas. Family and friends may call Friday morning at the church from 10:00am until time of Mass.


Margaret's family would like to thank the nurses at The Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of NEPA for their compassionate care during her stay. Arrangements are entrusted to the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.


Martha Susan McKenzie of Scranton, passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2021 after a brief battle with dementia at Allied Services Skilled Nursing, Scranton. Born August 15, 1935, in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late George and Veronica Batch Samulka.


Martha was a 1953 graduate of Scranton Central High School. She was an insatiable reader as well as a long time employee of Haddon Craftsman Book Bindery, Scranton. She was a strong willed woman who loves her 3 children, Barb Gordon and her husband, John of Whidbey Island, WA, Mike Johnson and his wife, Patty of Freeland, PA, and Sheri Stemba and her husband, Joseph of Exeter, PA; and adored her grandchildren, Jeremiah, Roxanne, and Lucas.


Although she didn't drive, she loved long drives with her family and riding on the colts buses with the friendly drivers whom she considered friends; Thank You for being kind to her. In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her brothers, Henry and Freddy Batch.


Graveside services will be held Thursday at 3:00pm at St. John's Greek Catholic Church Cemetery, Davis Street, Scranton. The Reverend Leonard Martin, Pastor of St. Mary's Byzantine Church, will be officiating.

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 to Joseph and Helen Dorko of McCarragher Street in 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.