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.

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.