Catherine M. Nedza

Catherine M. Nedza, 99, DuBois, passed away Sunday, October 1, 2023, at DuBois Village. She was born April 19, 1924, in DuBois; a daughter of the late Philip Nawoj & Aniela (Kolek) Narvey. She married George Nedza on April 19, 1947 at St. Michael’s Church in DuBois; he preceded her in death in 1985.

Catherine was a graduate of Sandy High School and had worked at Brockway Glass until her retirement. She was a member of St. Michaels Church and lived all her life in DuBois. After her retirement, when she wasn’t playing BINGO, she enjoyed calling her family and her husband’s family to keep up with their lives. She had always been able to name all the family, including nieces, nephews, and their children. She hosted Christmas and Easter Dinner for her immediate family for many years and loved attending any & all family gatherings that were held!

Catherine leaves behind three children, Carlene (Perry Landis) Duttry, John Nedza, and Leo (Susan) Nedza all of DuBois, twelve grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was the last survivor of seven siblings.

In addition to her parents and husband, Catherine was also preceded in death by a daughter Shirley McNulty, four brothers, Frank, Joseph, John, and Walter Narvey, three sisters Ann Kassawara, Julia Seary, and Frances Mocek.

Public visitation will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, and also on Friday, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Leo Nedza Funeral Home in DuBois. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 6, at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church with Fr. Edward Walk as celebrant. Burial will follow, next to her husband, in St. Michael Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to a favorite charity and will be accepting online condolences at www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com. 

Janet P. Lutz

Janet P. Lutz, 97, of Exeter, passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. Janet was born in Columbia, PA, raised in Lancaster and graduated from McCaskey High School. She studied at Traphagen School of Fashion Design and worked on Wall Street while in New York. Janet was also an IBM operator at Lancaster County National Bank before accepting a job as a model for Vanity Fair Mill, which brought her to Reading. In her earlier days, Janet's sense of style and fashion led her to manage the downtown Feel Fine Store, also working at the LadyBug Shop, Mikasa and Talbot's. She prided herself on providing the best customer service experiences. She was an inspiration and role model for many young working women, who often sought her opinion and assistance.

Janet was always doing volunteer work. She started with braille as a teenager with the Blind Association, and continued her work with the American Cancer Society, Reading Hospital Friends, Berks Visiting Nurse, Berks County Food Bank, and was always finding ways to help those less fortunate. She participated at Schwarzwald Lutheran and Schwarzwald U.C.C. churches, and particularly enjoyed helping to bake cookies and roll Easter eggs during the holidays. She loved helping out with concession stands at Reading Hospital and Oley Fairs, anywhere she could meet and greet people.

Janet loved entertaining, cooking and decorating her home, but most of all she cherished her family and loved her friends and neighbors. She loved getting together for dominos, movies, eating out, church, festivals, shopping and attending sporting events. You name it, Janet was game! Whether it was for a ride, an outing, a get together, her energy and enthusiasm for life was unmatched and often hard to keep up with. If you were out with Janet and came across someone she didn't know, it would be an unusual day. She knew and was admired by many people, her personable nature and true interest in others were rare. Janet was known for loyally remembering friends' and families' birthdays, anniversaries, and special events with handpicked and personalized cards.

Janet was one of a kind, a gift from God. As in one of her favorite passages from Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you." She was a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God and will be dearly missed by all.

Every day she was in awe of the Lord's creations, especially in awe of His creation of her children; the late Wedge, husband of Sue Whitman, of Fountain Hills, AZ, Chip, husband of Bonnie Spatz, of Reading, Courtney, wife of Thomas Gallagher, of Haddam, CT, and Putter, husband of Kim Stankiewicz, of Reading. She was a dear grandmother to; Seth, John, Amanda, Jordan, Asa, Adam, Jenna, Peter, Whitney, Grant, Rachel, and Ian, as well as a dear great-grandmother to; Isaac, Abigail, Judah, Pearl, Micah, Charlotte, Eleanor, Ally, John, Sophie, Nora, Callen, Bode, Drew, Samantha, Henry, Chandler, Hudson, Ariel, Charlie, Grace, Bennett, and August. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Gorner, wife of Robert, of Lancaster, and her brother Robert Lutz, husband of Eileen, of Lancaster. She is preceded in death by her siblings; Donald, Russell, and Emma Katherine.

Visitation with family and friends will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with services beginning at 3:00 pm in Lutz Funeral Home, Inc., 2100 Perkiomen Avenue Reading, PA 19606. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Berks Visiting Nurse Association, 1170 Berkshire Blvd #1220 Wyomissing, PA 19610, or to American Red Cross, 237 Court Street Reading, PA 19601. Lutz Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.LutzFuneralHome.com 

Mary Mamary

On Monday night, Oct. 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family, Mary Mamary, 95, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully at home.

Mary was born April 14, 1928, to the late Anthony and Jenny Elias Morrash. She was the matriarch of her family, having lived longer than her siblings and friends, and she was fondly referred to as "Mom," "Sittu," and "Aunt Mary" by more than just family.

She graduated from Meyers High School in 1946 and then worked at the Hanover Bank. She was also co-owner and operator of A&M Supply and devoted the majority of her years to serving at Mamary-Durkin Funeral Home.

Mary was a member of St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Wilkes-Barre, its choir and Ladies Auxiliary, taught Sunday School, and participated in the spaghetti dinners.

Mary enjoyed going out with her friends on Saturday nights to dinners and movies, but her greatest joy was being with her family. She was a caring, kind soul who loved and laughed until the very end.

The love she gave and the lessons she taught will be held dear by those left behind to cherish her memory including her son, Andrew "Drew" Mamary Jr. and his wife, Diane; Marianne Turosky and her husband, Vince; Sandra Mamary and her partner, Jodi Anderson; grandchildren, Drew Mamary III and his partner, Luz Sanchez; Danielle Collum and her husband, Jordan; Adam Turosky and his fiancée, Megan Mirra; and Michael Ionta; great-granddaughter, Norah Collum; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Mary was preceded in death by Andy Mamary; siblings, Catherine Allan; Ruth Chrzanowski; George, John and Joseph Morrash; brothers-in-law, Dr. Albert Mamary and Joseph Mamary, who she raised like a son; and daughter-in-law, Candy Vincent Mamary.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from Mamary-Durkin Funeral & Cremation Services, 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre, with services held at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Interment will follow in the Parish Cemetery, Hanover Twp.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions at the funeral home to St. Mary's Antiochian Church, 905 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. 

Salvatore J. LaVecchia

Salvatore J. LaVecchia of Oakford, PA died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.  He was 80.

Sal was the beloved husband of 44 years to Joyce A. Hickman LaVecchia.

Born in Philadelphia he was the son of the late James V. and Theresa Volpe LaVecchia.

Sal was known by many as “Sammy” or “Big Sal”, but he was affectionately known and loved as Dad and Pop Pop.  He was a hardworking and devoted family man and friend.  He worked a full career with the former Ford Motor Company parts distribution center in Pennsauken. While in his younger years, prior to moving to Bucks County, he served on the Philadelphia Traffic Court, and was also a sworn Warrant Officer for the City of Philadelphia.  Sal was active with City Politics and served as a committeeman for the 35th Ward and assisted former city commissioner and Ward leader, John Kane, with various roles and duties for the Ward. 

After his early retirement from Ford Motor Company, Sal embarked on a new career as a Para Educator with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22.  His career with the Intermediate Unit began at Eastern State School and Hospital.  After assisting special education teachers within Bucks County at different schools, following the closure of Eastern State Sal retired a second and final time only to embark on a task he loved and cherished the most; spending time watching his children flourish and seeing the family grow.  He truly loved being with his grandchildren whether it would be watching them when their parents were out working, or just spoiling them with his love and generosity.  Sal, “Sammy”, “Big Sal”, Dad, and Pop Pop will be greatly missed but eternally loved and remembered.

In addition to his beloved wife Joyce, Sal is survived by his loving and devoted children: Salvatore J. LaVecchia II and his wife Elizabeth of Trevose and Maria E. Heffernan and her husband Ed of Levittown.  He is also survived by his six adoring grandchildren: Ashley A., Sophia A., Salvatore J. LaVecchia III, Domonic E., Elaina R., and Jason E. Heffernan.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewings on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00PM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Road (at Holland Rd.) Richboro, PA  18954 and at Assumption B.V.M. Church, 1900 Meadowbrook Road, Feasterville, PA 19053 on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 10:00AM until  his Funeral Mass at 11:00am.  Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem. 

In gratitude of the assistance and care provided to Sal, his family kindly requests, contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Chandler Hall Hospice, 99 Barclay Street, Newtown, PA  18940.