Hugh B Hughes & Son Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, PA (2026)

06/12/2026

Catherine Lynch, 99, passed away June 11, 2026. She was a cherished mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Born Oct 6, 1926 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Joseph and Anna Buzick. She spent her early years on the family farm in Benton PA and moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1941 and graduate from Coughlin High School in 1944. She entered Registered Nurse Diploma Training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Wilkes-Barre PA and supported the WWII war effort by joining the US Cadet Nurse Corps, serving 3 years and working as a welder for airplane parts in West Pittston. Her nursing career began as a private duty nurse for Mrs. Albert Lewis, Bear Creek. The natural beauty of the area inspired her to start painting on her time off and eventually entered an Art Show in Wilkes-Barre where she won Honorable Mention. It was curated by artist Basil Lynch who she later married. Mr. Lynch opened a commercial art studio in Kingston, Pa and it was there that they spent 60 years together and raised 2 children. In 1966 Catherine returned to her nursing career in Nesbitt Memorial hospital as a staff nurse on the orthopedic/ medical surgical floor until retirement in 1991.

She was an active member of St Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Kingston and a devoted member of the Rosary Society. She always had a beautiful garden full of flowers and vegetables and took great pride in her trees and bushes which were always well trimmed. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Basil in 2010 and granddaughter Michelle Byrnes in 2023.

Surviving are her children Basil Lynch (Michele) and Marian Byrnes (Michael), grandsons Joseph and Tyler Lynch, Peter (Casey)Byrnes and granddaughters Katie Lynch (Vincent) Romito and Catherine Byrnes. Great grandchildren Gianna and Olivia Romito and Everett, Caleb and Rowan Byrnes.

Family and friends are invited from 9 to 10 AM on Tuesday, June 16th to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 321 Chestnut Ave., Kingston. Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be held immediately following at 10 AM at the Church. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Byzantine Cemetery, Pringle. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hugh B Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, Forty Fort.

06/11/2026

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Irene L. (Narusewicz) Pugh, 93, of Kingston, Pennsylvania. She departed this world peacefully on June 8, 2026, surrounded by the comforting presence of her family.

Born on September 21, 1932, in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, Irene was the cherished daughter of the late Stanley and Blanche (Kolendowicz) Narusewicz. She was a proud graduate of Edwardsville High School, Class of 1950.

Irene dedicated her life to supporting and guiding her family. She was not just a mother, but our calmest confidante and the unwavering cornerstone of our lives. Whether she was preparing family meals that brought everyone together around the table, offering words of encouragement when they were needed most, or welcoming loved ones into her home with warmth and kindness, she poured unconditional love into everything she did.

She taught us the value of resilience, the importance of laughter, and how to love without limits. Above all, Irene was the heart of our family. Her nurturing spirit, gentle wisdom, and steadfast devotion will forever live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind.

She is lovingly remembered and profoundly missed by her daughter, Jane Pugh of Kingston; her sons, James L. Pugh and his fiancée, Jacqueline Debo, of Kingston, and Kenneth Pugh and his wife, Rosemarie, of Luzerne; her grandchildren, Stephanie Pugh and her husband, James, of New Jersey, and Kenneth Pugh and his wife, Jillian; four cherished great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, James W. Pugh; her brothers, Stanley and Robert Narusewicz; and her sisters, Martha Shafer and Helen Eislele.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Irene’s life on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 1041 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Parish, 574 Bennett Street, Luzerne. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 612 Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming, PA 18644.

Irene’s legacy of love, kindness, and devotion to family will remain a guiding light to all who knew and loved her.

05/26/2026

William J. Mushinski, 89, of Larksville, Passed away on Saturday, May 23rd, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

William was born in Wilkes-Barre, on May 4, 1937 of the Late William P. and Helen Tomko Mushinski (Curran) He was a Graduate of Meyers High School Class of 1956.

He was retired from Intermountain Group. He was loved
He was a fan of the New York Yankees and Notre Dame Fighting Irish rarely missed a game and proudly cheered them on through every season.

William is preceded in death by Son Thomas R. Shovlin, Sister Dolores Saba, Dallas, and Rita Ault, Williamsport.

William is survived by Wife Carol A. Mushinski, Children William J. Mushinski and Wife Michelle, Deann Martin and Husband Christopher, Lisa Maddox and husband Bill and Joseph Shovlin, Grandchildren Alec Martin, Erin Yonce and Husband Jacob, Katy Connolly and husband Chris and children, Nicole Bono and Husband Steve and children and Erik Shovlin.

Family and friends are invited from 9 to 11 am on Thursday, May 28th to Hugh B. Hughes Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. Funeral Services will immediately follow 11 AM, with Rev. Carol Coleman, officiating. Interment will be held at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.

05/18/2026

It is with a heavy heart and an even fuller one that I share that my beloved husband, Frank Kaminski, Jr., went home to the Lord on May 15th, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. He was 70 years old.

Frank was a man of few words and enormous presence. He was quiet and strong, the kind of person who shouldered whatever was placed in front of him without complaint, without performance, and without ever asking for credit. When the work was hard, he did it. When someone needed help, he helped. When life sent him cancer for the first time, years ago, he met it the same way: with steady eyes and quiet faith that whatever came, he would handle it. And he did.

Frank had the courage to choose to battle AML TP53, so he could have more time with his family.

Frank made a career out of his love of welding that started at Bechtel Power Plant. While employed at Air Products & Chemicals for 22 years, for whom he traveled the world.

But if you really want to know who he was, you had to see him with his four granddaughters.

Those girls were the greatest delight of his life. He gave the world's best piggyback rides, and the giggling that followed him around our house and down every beach we ever visited is a sound I will carry with me forever. Every summer we packed up the car and headed to the shore. Ocean City. Virginia Beach. Cape May. He would let those girls drag him onto the sketchiest, rattliest boardwalk roller coaster they could find, and he would ride it again and again because they asked him to. They would steal the hats off his head and run, shrieking with laughter, and he would chase them every single time, pretending to be slower than he was so they could get away. He loved to show the girls how to catch sand crabs, and they would screech with delight when he would put them in their hands.

He loved them so completely. And they knew it. That is one of the great blessings of our family: those girls will grow up knowing exactly what it feels like to be deeply, quietly, unconditionally loved by a good man.

A few weeks ago, after years of being well, we learned he was facing aggressive leukemia. He met that news the way he met everything else in his life: with courage, with grace, and without a word of self-pity. He fought hard. He suffered with dignity. And when it became clear that the Lord was calling him home, he went peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved him most. We all got to say our goodbyes.

We keep returning to a thought that has carried me through these last days, that we are not given more time than we have, only the chance to love well with the time we are given. Frank loved well. He loved deeply, faithfully, and without condition, and our family was the richer for every quiet year we had with him.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Ziebro Kaminski, and nephew, Robert Colburn, Jr.

Surviving is his loving wife of 41 years, Deidre Miller Kaminski, of Edwardsville; step-daughter, Heather Dee Cawley, and Mark Nilon, of Larksville; daughter, Sally Anne Kaminski-Tax, and husband, Matt Tax; granddaughters, Amelia Grace, Celeste Marie, Lyra Clementine and Solara Anne Tax; sisters, Theresa Fraley, and husband Ralph, Chris Weldon, and the late Frances Colburn Shaup; goddaughter, Kelly Herron; as well as nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited from 5 to 7 PM on Friday, May 22nd, to Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.

Memorial service will be held at 12 PM on Saturday, May 23rd, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 35 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Inurnment will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Swoyersville. All who loved him are welcome to join us at St. Stephen's.

Please hold our family, and especially Sally, Heather and our four granddaughters, in your prayers in the days ahead. Your kindness, calls, cards and love these last weeks have already meant more than I can say. He always felt loved.

05/11/2026

William D. Hottenstein, Sr., 88, of Plains, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, surrounded by paramedics. Born in Kingston on June 24th, 1937, he was the son of the late Betty Isaac Hottenstein and Kenneth Hottenstein.

A 1955 graduate of Luzerne High School and a 1962 graduate of East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, he also earned a Masters Equivalency from Temple University. Bill served in the US Army from 1955-58, stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany in the 25th Signal Battalion. He taught in Wilkes-Barre Area School District from 1962 to 1993, including History at Coughlin High School and Economics and World Cultures at Meyers High School. While at Meyers, he was the yearbook advisor, advisor to the Key Club, Assistant Athletic Director under Mickey Gorham, and introduced the Junior Achievement Economic Development Program to the district. Bill is also well remembered as the maitre d’ and manager of the dining room and bar at the former Andy Perugino’s restaurant in Luzerne.

He is a member of the Shavertown United Methodist Church, and previously a member of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church, where he held several leadership positions including Chair of Finance and Member of the Administrative Board.

Bill was an avid Penn State football fan and a strong supporter of Coach Joe Paterno, as well as a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association. Among his treasured memories were twice hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, once with his wife Ellie for their 25th wedding anniversary, and again with his son Eric. In 1992, Bill also had the honor of taking Free Market Economics to the schools of Moscow, Russia, together with other educators and business leaders, as part of Junior Achievement. During his retirement time, he was an avid gardener and enjoyed walking the Rails to Trails with his wife and various dogs. He had a mildly inappropriate sense of humor and never passed up an opportunity to tell a joke or good story.

Bill and Ellie would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on November 9th of this year.

Surviving are his wife, Eleanor (Ellie) Hottenstein PhD, sons Dr. William Hottenstein and wife Nora and Eric Hottenstein, grandchildren Celia Hottenstein Taber (Travis) and William Hottenstein, many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews, as well as his dogs Nikki and JD.

Bill is preceded in death by his sisters Betty Jane Jacobs (Paul), Noelwah Netusil (Louis), Janet Tomasak (Pete), and his brother Ken Hottenstein (Venita).

Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 7 at Hugh B. Hughes Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort. Those wishing to join in our celebration of Bill’s life are welcome to meet on Friday at 11 at the Shavertown United Methodist Church, Pioneer Ave. Internment will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers and Blue Chip Animal Refuge, Lockville Rd., Dallas.

05/11/2026

Robert (Bob) F. Thomas, 94, of Bedford Street, Forty Fort, died at his home on May 8, 2026.

Born in Luzerne he was the son of the late William and Mignonette Rielly Thomas. He served in the US Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict.

Bob had been a resident of Forty Fort and was a Police Officer for Forty Fort Borough. He dedicated 31 years of his life as an officer protecting his community. He was a member of the Forty Fort Presbyterian Church and the Forty Fort Fire Company.

Preceding him in death are his sister, Ruth Stela, Mignonette Heenan, Linda Jane Blaum; brothers, Richard, Jack, William and Daniel. He enjoyed baseball. He was a little league coach in baseball for the coastguard, played for the Stacks baseball team and went to the Little League World Series games for many years.

Bob was loving husband married to the former Barbara Ann Jones for 70 years, May 5. Besides his wife, he is survived by, his son, Robert and Charlotte, daughters, Cheri and Gary, Megan. Bob greatest joy was his grandson, Tyler and Kyle, Adam and Evan. Several nieces and nephews.

Funeral on Wednesday at 11 A.M. will be held at the Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort. The entombment with Military Honor’s will be at Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 7 P.M.

05/11/2026

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Marlene P. Alles, 68 of Forty Fort. After a recent hospitalization, Marlene passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026, surrounded by family.

Marlene was the daughter of the late Leonard and Susan Zera of Luzerne. She was a graduate of Bishop O’Reilly High School, Class of 1976.

Marlene was a loving mother, proud grandmother, treasured family member and friend, and a passionate Penn State football fan. She devoted herself to raising her three children and found many years of great joy cheering on her son, George, aka “Chipper,” on the baseball field. She proudly served as President of the Wyoming Valley West Baseball Booster Club and was her sons’ biggest fan, on and off the field. After her children were grown, she worked at Highland Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Exeter, until she retired in 2022. Marlene was also blessed with a Granddaughter, Kayla, who she affectionately adored and was beyond proud of. She cherished every moment spent together, finding great joy in watching her grow into a beautiful young lady, celebrating each milestone and creating memories that will be forever treasured.

In addition to her parents, Marlene was preceded in death by her daughter, Jennifer Lynn Alles.

She leaves behind her daughter, Karen Smith, Jenkins Twp., son, George Alles IV, Forty Fort, granddaughter, Kayla Lynn Smith, brother, Leonard J. Zera and wife Diane, Yatesville, sister, Susan Seitz and husband Robert, Swoyersville, nephew Matthew Zera (Caitlyn and Owen), Luzerne, and niece Emily Miller (Patrick and Lola), Bryn Mawr.

Family and friends may call Tuesday morning, May 12th, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave, Forty Fort. A Mass of Christian Burial will held at 11 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville. Interment services will follow at St. John Nepomucene Cemetery, Courtdale.

Marlene courageously faced the challenges of chronic kidney disease with remarkable resilience and dignity. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Marlene’s memory to The American Kidney Fund or the National Kidney Foundation.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Renal Consultants of Wyoming Valley and Fresenius Kidney Care, Pittston, for their unwavering compassion, exceptional care, and support over the past several years. The family also wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the team at Commonwealth Health, Wilkes Barre General Hospital CVICU, and Allied Services Hospice Meade Street for the care and support you showed Marlene and our family during her final days.

05/02/2026

John A. Newhart, 82, of Larksville, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, April 24th, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

John was born in Wilkes-Barre on December 13th, 1943, son of the late John and Irene Rascavage Newhart.

He is a graduate of West Side Central Catholic High School.

He was employed as Purchasing Agent at Eastern Penn Supply Co. Wilkes-Barre PA for over 30 years.

John proudly served his country as a member of the Army National Guard Reserves 109th Field Artilleryretiring after 40 years of service as a 1st SGT in 2004. He started his career in Artillery conducting weapons training including Howitzers, then moved to Service Battery, where he enjoyed overseeing simulated war zones.

He was also an active member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Larksville PA. John spent many Sunday’s peeling potatoes for pierogies.

He always loved to go golfing with his buddies, he played in two leagues at Blue Ridge Golf Course and loved going every spring to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

John is preceded in death by his sister Irene Biniek, brother Joseph Newhart, and his first wife Alison Morgan Newhart.

John is survived by his wife of 18 years, Marlee, Larksville PA,

children John R. Newhart, husband Matthew Smith, Selinsgrove, PA, Matthew Newhart, wife Kristy Ann, Harveys Lake PA, John Mesaros, wife Jessica, Saint Petersburg FL, Jeffrey Mesaros, wife Maria, Orlando FL, Bob Mesaros, Saint Petersburg FL,

grandchildren - Brienne Newhart, John Mesaros III, Sydney Mesaros, Alison Newhart, Colin Mikolaichik, Lily Mesaros, Olivia Mesaros, Taylor Mesaros, and Rose Mesaros.

Family and friends are invited from 2 to 5 PM on Sunday, May 3rd, to Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, May 4th, at St. John the Baptist Church, 126 Nesbitt St., Larksville. Interment will be held at St. Hedwig’s Cemetery, Larksville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice.

05/01/2026

Norma G. Zurner, 90, born May 18th, 1935, wife of the late, Lee Zurner, of Forty Fort PA, was the epitome of a fighter for the duration of her life. She was the eldest daughter of two Italian immigrant parents, Vincenzo and Leonora Pisaneschi and spent a majority of her childhood living in Luzerne, PA. At the tender age of 12 she began her journey to a better life, picking green beans, working in a laundromat and peanut factory for little pay.

She persevered through many adversities and hardships, and due her tremendous strides in academia, she was granted a full scholarship to College Misericordia, graduated with a degree in Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology and achieved one of the highest honors, valedictorian of her graduating class.

Her work ethic echoed her commitment to higher education and importance of volunteering in her community. She was an employee for Baltimore Life Inc, substituted for Wyoming Valley West School District and worked for The Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming Counties for the Foster Grandparent's Program into her mid 80s, taught GED classes, an avid member of the Forty Fort Dennison House, Wyoming Valley Art League, Gourmet Club, taught CCD classes and other outreach programs, such as Prison Ministries.

She is well known for her authentic "red sauce" and spinach and meat raviolis made from scratch for all major holidays and her gift of gab. She was the embodiment of strength and courage and will never be forgotten.

She was the rock of the family and a woman of action. Whether it was mowing someone's lawn or making a home cooked meal, she always made time in her schedule to put others above herself.

She passed away comfortably on April 30, 2026, and is survived by her children, Ann Marie Chiogna, Christine Barlow, Joseph Zurner and Leah Ross, grandchildren, Raina Chiogna, Grace and Joey Zurner, Claire Barlow, Levi and Caleb Ross, great-grandchildren, Nathan Havrilla, August and Arianna Fitz, and her brother Mario Pisansechi.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart and all those loving individuals who cared for her. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Family and friends are invited from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, May 4th, at Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 5th, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Interment will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart and all those loving individuals who cared for her. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

04/29/2026

John A. Newhart, 82, of Larksville, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, April 24th, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

John was born in Wilkes-Barre on December 13th, 1943, son of the late John and Irene Rascavage Newhart.

He is a graduate of West Side Central Catholic High School.
He was employed as Purchasing Agent at Eastern Penn Supply Co. Wilkes-Barre PA for over 30 years.

John proudly served his country as a member of the Army National Guard Reserves 109th Field Artillery retiring after 40 years of service as a 1st SGT in 2004. He started his career in Artillery conducting weapons training including Howitzers, then moved to Service Battery, where he enjoyed overseeing simulated war zones.
He was also an active member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Larksville PA. John spent many Sunday’s peeling potatoes for pierogies.

He always loved to go golfing with his buddies, he played in two leagues at Blue Ridge Golf Course and loved going every spring to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

John is preceded in death by his sister Irene Biniek, brother Joseph Newhart, and his first wife Alison Morgan Newhart.

John is survived by his wife of 18 years, Marlee, Larksville PA,
children John R. Newhart, husband Matthew Smith, Selinsgrove, PA, Matthew Newhart, wife Kristy Ann, Harveys Lake PA, John Mesaros, wife Jessica, Saint Petersburg FL, Jeffrey Mesaros, wife Maria, Orlando FL, Bob Mesaros, Saint Petersburg FL,
grandchildren - Brienne Newhart, John Mesaros III, Sydney Mesaros, Alison Newhart, Colin Mikolaichik, Lily Mesaros, Olivia Mesaros, Taylor Mesaros, and Rose Mesaros.

Family and friends are invited from 2 to 5 PM on Sunday, May 3rd, to Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, May 4th, at St. John the Baptist Church, 126 Nesbitt St., Larksville. Interment will be held at St. Hedwig’s Cemetery, Larksville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice.

Hugh B Hughes & Son Funeral Home

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