On February 25, 2022, Morfydd Gidget Knorr, a 71-year-old resident of Gracedale Nursing Home in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, died.
Coaldale, Pennsylvania born on June 2, 1950, to the late Richard and Marian Urban.
Jessica B. Knorr of Nesquehoning and Amanda E. Knorr of Whitehall are the only surviving children.
After graduating from Lansford High School, Gidget attended the Thomas Jefferson School of Nursing in Philadelphia, where she obtained her nursing degree. While at Muhlenburg Medical Center in Bethlehem, Gidget worked for the Lehigh Valley Health System for many years. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Gidget was an equestrian, an avid reader, and an animal lover.
The E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252 has been entrusted with the arrangements for the deceased. Call us at (570) 668-2550 to learn more.
Sky View Memorial Park in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, has been selected for the service.
“Tiki Tony” Anthony J. Zahora, Sr., 96, of Walker Twp., South Tamaqua, Pennsylvania passed away on February 27, 2022 at St. Luke’s Miners Memorial in Coaldale, Pennsylvania. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
The son of Joseph and Julia (Hudec) Zahora, he was born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania on August 13, 1925. Marie (Kupetz) Zahora, his beloved wife; children Michele D. Knepper and Anthony M. “Tony” Zahora, Jr.; sisters Julia and Mary Davison; brothers Charles “Cutter”; Joseph, John, and William Zahora; and grandson Kyle Knepper.
Son Charles Zahora of Marysville and his wife Marilyn survive, as do daughters Maria A. Naab, married to Ed Naab, of Lebanon, and Margo Russoli, married to Tom Russoli, of Schnecksville; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren he adored; a companion, RuthAnn Feane; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Anthony, a proud Coaldale High School alum, served his country honourably in World War II. Anthony returned to Pennsylvania and worked in the mines for many years before joining Bonney Forge in Allentown as a machinist. In addition to clamming on the Delaware beaches, Anthony enjoyed long walks, time spent with his family, and trips to Las Vegas, where he enjoyed sampling the buffet.
In his passing, Tony has left a legacy of love and humility in his wake. Known as “Pop” by his grandchildren, he had an uncanny ability to make light of the most serious situations. He eagerly anticipated the opportunity to send out Christmas cards on which the word “Believe” was handwritten in the heading. As a person who persevered through many hardships, he will live on in the hearts and minds of many generations. He never wavered in his belief in God, no matter how difficult the situation became.
The E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252 has been entrusted with the arrangements. Call us at (570) 668-2550 to learn more.
The funeral home will conduct a service on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 11 a.m. Funeral services will be held at the following times: 9:30 A.M. until the time of service.
St. Bertha’s Cemetery R.C.C. Cemetery, Walker Twp., Pennsylvania, will be the final resting place for the deceased.
Please make a donation to a local charity in honor of Anthony.
At the age of 83, Francis “Fritz” Gavaletz of Pottsville passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 27th, surrounded by his loved ones at his home.
Gavaletz’s parents were Joseph and Anna (Verbosh) Gavaletz, both of Pottsville.
Pottsville’s St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church was Fritz’s church of choice. During the Korean War, he proudly served in the United States Air Force. Amvets Post 180, West End Hose Co. and Cressona Legion Post 286 were among the organisations he belonged to.
At the time of his death, he had worked for Reading Anthracite as a truck driver in Wadesville, Pennsylvania.
Donna Gavaletz, Donna’s sister-in-law, was also a close family member.
A 62-year marriage to Fritz’s soulmate and best friend, Joyce A. (Snyder) Gavaletz, will be celebrated on July 16 this year. Butch “Butch” husband of Dale “Dalle” Auburn; Mikaela Pottsville; and Joseph E. husband of Monica Pottsville are also his surviving children. Also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren Adam (California), Aaron (Washington), and Katriona (England), as well as five great-grandchildren, a brother (Pottsville, Pa.) and numerous nieces and nephews.
On Thursday, March 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., family and friends are invited to visit Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 515 West Market Street, Pottsville, Pennsylvania 17901. At 2 p.m., a military funeral service will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Pennsylvania.
In accordance with Fritz’s wishes, donations to the Hillside SPCA can be made instead of flowers.
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On Monday, February 28th, Joseph Grabuskie Jr., 84, of Pocono Lake passed away suddenly.
He was the son of the late Joseph and Edith Smith Grabuskie, who was born in Frackville. Joe worked as Capitol Records’ Corporate Director of Industrial Relations until he retired in 2011. The National Academy of Arbitrators admitted him as a member.
Before graduating from Georgia Tech, Joe spent six years in the Army Reserves.
Carol (Shuey) Grabuskie of Pocono Lake, Joe’s high school sweetheart with whom he shared 60 years of marriage, survives him. Joseph and Jeanna Grabuskie had four children: George Grabuskie and Karin Grabuskie, both of Pocono Lake, North Carolina, and Shane Campbell, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. There are seven grandchildren he leaves behind in addition to his wife: Gorden; Mikayla; Kristine; Joseph; Elizabeth; Holden; and John.
Frackville’s Zion Lutheran Church (Annunciation BVM Church), 33 S. Broad Mountain Ave. with Pastor Carl Shankweiler, will host a memorial service on Saturday, March 5th, at 10 am. At the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service, friends are welcome to come and pay their respects. Sky-View Memorial Park in Hometown will serve as the final resting place for the deceased.
Plans are being handled by Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc, of Frackville.
