Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services

08/24/2026

Mary Ellen Lesko, 92, of Lausanne Township, Weatherly, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton Campus.
Born in Freeland, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, August 12, 1933, she was the daughter of the late John and Gazella (Znachko) Yuhas.
A proud graduate of Freeland High School, Mary Ellen pursued a career in nursing after earning her Practical Nursing Certification from the Carnegie Institute. She dedicated many years of service to the residents of the White Haven Center.
Mary Ellen embraced life with a quiet strength and a loving heart. She found joy in the simple pleasures: being out in her gardens, spending time outdoors, being with family, and always enjoying a good card or word game. An adventurer at heart, she loved traveling the country alongside her long-time companion, Jim, as he delivered motorhomes. Above all, Mary Ellen cherished her role as "Nana" and loved her family deeply, leaving them with legacy stories of warmth and devotion that her family will never forget. She was a member of Salem U.C.C. of Weatherly.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John P. Lesko Sr.; sons, John P. Lesko, Jr. and Barry P. Lesko; and her grandson, Jeffrey Lesko.
Mary Ellen is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Rusden and her husband Bob; her sister, Marguerite Offidani; her companion of 30 years, Jim Light; grandchildren, Matthew Lesko, Jared Lesko, Zach Lesko, Jennifer Rusden, and Stephanie Rusden; great-grandchildren, Carter and Regan Lesko; and many other loving relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Weatherly, Pennsylvania.

Graveside services will be held on Friday September September 18, 2026 at 3 o'clock P.M. Union Cemetery in Weatherly, Pennsylvania.

Online condolences or a fond memory of Mary Ellen may be shared with the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com.

08/22/2026

https://www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/ronald-bogda

View Ronald R. Bogda's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/18/2026

Linda A. Hoffman, 76, passed away peacefully at her Lehigh Township home in Weatherly, Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Her devoted husband of 58 years, Robert J. Hoffman, Sr., was by her side.

Born on December 2, 1949, in Wilkes-Barre, Linda was the daughter of the late Howard Davis and Margaret (Moran) Smith, and stepdaughter of the late Trevor Smith. After graduating from James M. Coughlin High School, she worked at the Mountain Laurel Resort in White Haven.

Linda was a vibrant and creative soul. She expressed her artistic talents through painting, crocheting, adult coloring, and writing beautiful poetry. She possessed a green thumb for tending to her plants and cherished the quiet company of her beloved cats.

Surviving are son, Robert J. Hoffman, Jr. and his wife Lori; daughters, Lisa Miller wife of Rev. Scott, Emily Houser wife of Jared; sisters, Mary Ann Hoffman, Margaret Espinoza, Beverly Uding; step brother, Trevor Smith Jr.; 10 grand children.

Private arrangements entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation services of 211 First street Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255. (570) 427-4231

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com

08/17/2026

Joseph "Joe" Kuzo passed away Friday August 7th 2026 at St Luke's Lehighton surrounded by good friends and family.

Joe lost a hard battle with lung, brain, and adrenal cancer; as well as some other medical complications. If you knew Joe, you would understand that those complications needed to be tough, the man was hard as steel. If you didn't know Joe, I'll be happy to tell you a little bit about him. Joe was born on September 15, 1952 in Jim Thorpe Pa to Nicholas Kuzo and Mary (Hoherchak) Kuzo. He grew up in Weatherly, stayed in Weatherly and was happy there. Survived by his wife, Carol R. (Walton) Kuzo, he has three brothers, Nicholas Kuzo Jr. (deceased), John Kuzo (deceased) and Michael Kuzo. He has a son Joseph and a daughter Alicia, a wife Carol (Walton) Kuzo and a dog named Kilo. All important information, but this doesn’t describe the man. Joe was an interesting fella. The man loved the outdoors. He spent many of his days outside hunting and just being in the open air doing whatever it was that Joe decided to do that day. Could have been walking, picking a ridiculously large amount of apples, gardening, shooting a gun, or anything your mind can come to. He had a passion of turning those picked fruits into wine like some redneck Jesus. Give the man cherry, he could get you drunk (in a few months). If you were going over Joe's, you prepared yourself for good spirits, good times and good food. That’s another thing he loved, food. I never met a man who was willing to spend all day in a car to get something to eat besides Joe. It didn’t matter where you were located, if your food was good, he was loyal and he loved to share his favorite bites with his friends. He also loved to cook himself and he was great at it. Homemade kielbasa, dried herbs, deer....anything. The man could cook. Joe was also a motorcycle man most of his life. An open road for a free spirit makes sense and a free spirit he was. Joe said anything that came into his mind, no filter, no regret. He was a ball buster who loved a good joke despite if you found it funny or not. If it was funny to him, well that was enough. Better yet though if you gave it right back, then he deemed you alright. He was stuck in his ways and said how he felt, as many men do. If he didn’t like you, you knew it. But if he loved you, you knew Joe a whole lot more. You got love that the rest of the world wasn't lucky enough to see. Joe was tough, but damn were you lucky to know him. Rest in peace Joe.

A Jim Thorpe High School graduate, Joe served honorably in the United States Navy and retired from Lehigh Coal & Navigation. An avid outdoorsman, Joe was a member and past president of Silver Ridge Hunting Club of Weatherly and the Citizens Fire Co. of Weatherly. Joe and Carol enjoyed long rides on his Harley Davison Motor Cycle.

Pending arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of 211 First Street Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255. (570) 427-4231

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com

08/16/2026

https://www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/rita-benek

View Rita Marie Benek's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

Joseph "Joe" Kuzo passed away Friday August 7th 2026 at St Luke's Lehighton surrounded by good friends and family.

Joe lost a hard battle with lung, brain, and adrenal cancer; as well as some other medical complications. If you knew Joe, you would understand that those complications needed to be tough, the man was hard as steel. If you didn't know Joe, I'll be happy to tell you a little bit about him. Joe was born on September 15, 1952 in Jim Thorpe Pa to Nicholas Kuzo and Mary (Hoherchak) Kuzo. He grew up in Weatherly, stayed in Weatherly and was happy there. susrvied by his wife, Carol R. (Walton) Kuzo, he has three brothers, Nicholas Kuzo Jr. (deceased), John Kuzo (deceased) and Michael Kuzo. He has a son Joseph and a daughter Alicia, a wife Carol (Walton) Kuzo and a dog named Kilo. All important information, but this doesn’t describe the man. Joe was an interesting fella. The man loved the outdoors. He spent many of his days outside hunting and just being in the open air doing whatever it was that Joe decided to do that day. Could have been walking, picking a ridiculously large amount of apples, gardening, shooting a gun, or anything your mind can come to. He had a passion of turning those picked fruits into wine like some redneck Jesus. Give the man cherry, he could get you drunk (in a few months). If you were going over Joe's, you prepared yourself for good spirits, good times and good food. That’s another thing he loved, food. I never met a man who was willing to spend all day in a car to get something to eat besides Joe. It didn’t matter where you were located, if your food was good, he was loyal and he loved to share his favorite bites with his friends. He also loved to cook himself and he was great at it. Homemade kielbasa, dried herbs, deer....anything. The man could cook. Joe was also a motorcycle man most of his life. An open road for a free spirit makes sense and a free spirit he was. Joe said anything that came into his mind, no filter, no regret. He was a ball buster who loved a good joke despite if you found it funny or not. If it was funny to him, well that was enough. Better yet though if you gave it right back, then he deemed you alright. He was stuck in his ways and said how he felt, as many men do. If he didn’t like you, you knew it. But if he loved you, you knew Joe a whole lot more. You got love that the rest of the world wasn't lucky enough to see. Joe was tough, but damn were you lucky to know him. Rest in peace Joe.

A Jim Thorpe High School graduate, Joe served honorably in the United States Navy and retired from Lehigh Coal & Navigation. An avid outdoorsman, Joe was a member and past president of Silver Ridge Hunting Club of Weatherly and the Citizens Fire Co. of Weatherly. Joe and Carol enjoyed long rides on his Harley Davison Motor Cycle.

Pending arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of 211 First Street Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255. (570) 427-4231

Online condolences may be made to the family at

Griffiths Family of Funeral Homes in Tamaqua, PA offers compassionate funeral services with a focus on personalized care. We are here to support your family through every step of the funeral planning process.

08/04/2026

https://www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/george-graaf

View George Robert Graaf's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/02/2026

Catherine E. (Zehner) Schock, 90 years of age of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at St. Luke's Miners Memorial in Coaldale, Pennsylvania.

Born Sunday, April 5, 1936 in Coaldale, Pennsylvania the daughter of the late Charles T. and Vera Marie (Barthel) Zehner.

Catherine was also predeceased by; husband, Harold J; sons, Harold J. Schock Jr., Thomas F. Schock; Grandson Harold J Schock III

Surviving are daughters Holly Beth Cittrich & Husband Don Morris, Janet Marie Maxfield & Husband Nathan; son; Randy D. Schock and his wife Amy; 21 grandchildren; 32 Great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints Pottsville Branch, Catherine was a 1954 graduate of Tamaqua High School. Catherine enjoyed running the A-Treat soda business, crocheting, adult coloring books and gardening.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550

A visitation will be held on Wednesday evening August 5, 2026, at the funeral home from 5 to 7:00 P.M.

In leu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Catherine to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints 1501 Mahantongo St. Pottsville PA 17901

Online condolences or a fond memory of Catherine may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com

07/31/2026

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the St. Luke’s Nursing Honor Guard for the beautiful and meaningful tribute you provided today for Nancy Lee M. Markovchick.
Your presence brought a profound sense of dignity, respect, and honor to the service, offering comfort to the family during a difficult time.
The care and reverence you show in recognizing those who have dedicated their lives to nursing is truly remarkable. Your commitment not only honors the individual but also highlights the compassion and dedication that define the nursing profession.
Thank you for the invaluable service you provide to our community. It does not go unnoticed, and it is deeply appreciated by all of us.