K PAGE 8A
➛
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011
GEORGE W. MEIKLE JR., of Long Pond, Pa., died Tuesday morning, May 31, 2011, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was a son of the late George and Rose Meikle. He was educated in Roslyn, Pa., schools. He was self employed as a masonry contractor working in the Pocono region for 25 years. Survivors are a daughter, Melanie Walsh, Mountain Top; grandchildren, James Walsh and Russell Meyer, at home; and a great-granddaughter, Ava Daubert. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Desiderio Funeral Home Inc., 36 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may pay their respects from 11:30 a.m. until time of service. KAREN AQUA, a daughter of Ruth Aqua and the late Dr. Herman Aqua, passed away in Boston, Mass., Monday, May 30, 2011. Karen, an award-winning independent animator, is survived by her husband Ken Field; sisters, Marlene Aqua and Ellen (Dave Hart) Aqua; brother, Hal (Risa) Aqua; and seven nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in Boston. Shiva will be observed at 7 p.m. today and Thursday at the home of Ruth Aqua, 130 Gateway Dr., Apt. A, Edwardsville. Contributions may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at DFCI, under the direction of Dr. Ursula Matulonis, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215-5450. Condolences may be sent by visiting Karen’s obituary at www.rosenbergfuneralchapel.com. JOSEPH MACKAVAGE, 63, of Pittston, passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Born February 4, 1948, he was a son of the late Joseph P. and Frances Mackavage. A graduate of Pittston High School, he was employed by Techneglas, Pittston Township, prior to his retirement. Surviving are his wife of 37 years, the former Catherine Stempien; daughter Jenell and husband, James Potter, West Wyoming; sister, Margaret Dell Phelapini, Florida; and an aunt, Peg Carey, Pittston. The funeral will be held from the Kizis-Lokuta Funeral Home, 134 Church St., Pittston. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Harold R. Shupp May 30, 2011 arold R. Shupp, 83, of New H Smyrna Beach, Fla., and formerly of Dallas, passed away
Monday, May 30, 2011, in the ManorCare Health Services of Camp Hill, Pa. Born in West Wyoming, he was a son of the late George and Sarah Phillips Shupp. He was educated in the Dallas schools. Mr. Shupp retired from the U.S. Navy in 1965 after serving his country for 30 years as an air traffic controller. He worked with the Pa. Bureau of Employment Security for 20 years and FEMA for 10 years. He was a member of the Orange United Methodist Church and attended Corona United Methodist Church of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Harold was also a member of the American Legion Post 17, Florida. He loved playing golf and taking visitors on rides on the beach. Harold was a loving, proud father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, brother and uncle (unk), and he will be greatly missed by family and friends. Preceding him in death were his wife, the former Edith M. Phillips; and his brother, Fred Shupp. Surviving are children, Donna Edwards and her husband, Thomas, of Camp Hill, Pa., and Dale R. of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Karen M. Rhinehart and her husband, Charles, of Camp Hill, and Thomas Edwards, State College, Pa.; great-grandchildren, Emma May and Robby Rhinehart; sisters, Elizabeth Cyphers, Dallas, and Doris Cyphers, Wyoming; as well as nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Metcalfe and Shaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, with the Rev. John Overman, of the Ebenezer United Methodist Church of Middletown, officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Carverton. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 57 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1309; or the American Heart Association, 613 Baltimore Drive, Ste. 3, WilkesBarre, PA 18702.
O
B
I
T
U
Regina O’Donnell Lello May 30, 2011 O’Donnell Lello, 79, of R egina Dupont, passed away Monday,
May 30, 3011, in Hospice Care of the VNA, Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre. Born in Pittston on December 31, 1931, she was a daughter of the late James and Kathryn Collins O’Donnell. She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Pittston, and its Altar and Rosary Society. She had been a past president of the PTA at the Ben Franklin Elementary School, Dupont. Mrs. Lello was a graduate of St. John the Evangelist High School and attended Marywood University. She had been employed by Luzerne Intermediate Unit No. 18 as a teacher’s aide. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Johnson. Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Clem Lello; sons, Nick and his wife, Diane, of Carlisle, Pa.; Jimmy, Philadelphia, Pa.; Joe and his wife, Alona, Wyoming; and Patrick and his wife, Karen, Dupont; grandchildren, Megan; Nicholas; Christopher; Julia; Eugene and his wife, Abby; Brian; Patrick and Timothy; as well as nieces and nephews, Becki Johnson, Paul Johnson, Marian McNevin, Lisa Morreale and Lenora Lello. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Gerald Gibbons for his devotion and compas-
I
E
S
THE TIMES LEADER
sionate care; to Rev. Joseph Adonizio and Rev. Paul McDonnell for their spiritual comfort and support; to the nursing staff of Hospice of the VNA and the Frank and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for their excellent care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Pittston. Those attending the Funeral Mass are asked to go directly to church on Saturday morning. Interment will be held in St. John the Evangelist Cemetery, Pittston. There will be no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home, 802 Susquehanna Ave., West Pittston. Online condolences may be made at www.peterjadoniziofuneralhome.com.
John Grohowski, 70, of S tanley Hanover Township, passed away
NEW YORK — A combative, fashion-conscious mobster already serving a life prison term dodged a death sentence on Wednesday for ordering a gangland hit while taking control of a once-fearsome crime family. An anonymous jury deliberated less than two hours before rejecting the government’s longshot bid to have Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano put to death and giving him another life sentence at the penalty phase of his trial in federal court in Brooklyn. The jury had previously found the former acting boss of the Bonanno crime family guilty last month of murder, racketeering, conspiracy and other charges. Prosecutors said he had orchestrated the killing of mob associate Randolph Pizzolo. Basciano, 51, cracked a slight smile and nodded at the jurors as they exited the courtroom. Moments later, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis told defense lawyers they could meet privately with the jury and Basciano eagerly asked if he could tag along. The judge’s blunt response: “There’s not a chance in the world of that.” Prosecutors used the unprecedented testimony of former Bonanno boss Joseph Massino to try to portray Basciano as a stone-cold killer who deserved death. Massino — the highestranking member of the city’s five long-standing Mafia families to ever take the witness stand for
the government — recounted a conversation about the possibility of knocking off an assistant U.S. attorney Basciano while the prosecutor dined at his favorite Manhattan eatery to avenge an onslaught of criminal cases brought against the family leadership. “Let me kill this guy when he comes out of the restaurant,” Basciano said, according to Massino, who by mob rules had to sign off on the killing. The prosecutor, Greg Andres, had “pretty much destroyed the Bonanno family,” Massino testified. The government also sought to convince jurors that life behind bars wouldn’t prevent Basciano from trying to use visitors to sneak orders to his underworld crew — a tactic he’d used in the past. “Even with a life sentence, he will not be stopped,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri said in closing arguments. “His mind will always be in the street. ... The defendant has earned the ultimate punishment.” Defense attorney Richard Jasper argued the former owner of the Hello Gorgeous hair salon would pose no threat if imprisoned with other notorious gangsters and terrorists in the fortress-like lockup in Florence, Colo., “the biggest, baddest house in the federal system,” where “everybody is in lockdown.” He urged jurors to follow their consciences and “suspend the work of death until Vincent Basciano dies in a federal prison by
Dorothy Kae Billing Zack; and Seth and Sean Haines; siblings, Rose Mushalla, New Jersey; Francis Riley, Luzerne; Walter Grohowski, Wilkes-Barre; and Lorrain Pelech, New Jersey; as well as his beloved pets, Auggie, Queenie and Blackie. Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday from the First United Methodist Church, Main Street, Nanticoke, with the Rev. Andrea McDonald officiating. Arrangements are by the Earl W. Lohman Funeral Home Inc., 14 W. Green St., Nanticoke.
FUNERALS Township. MONTAGUE – Larry, relatives and friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Maher-Collins Funeral Home, 360 N. Maple Ave., Kingston. MOSKALUK – Randall, funeral 10 a.m. Friday from the Sweet Valley Church of Christ, 5439 Main Rd., Sweet Valley. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek. O’BORSKI – Gary Sr., funeral 11 a.m. Friday from the Clarke Piatt Funeral Home Inc., 6 Sunset Lake Road, Hunlock Creek. Friends may call 9 to 11 a.m. Friday. PETRICK – Nancy, Memorial Mass 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Dorrance Township. SAUER – Gloria, funeral Friday at 9 a.m. from the Mamary-Durkin Funeral Services, 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre. Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Aloysius Church. Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. today. STANIORSKI – Margaret, service to honor her life and faith 11 a.m. Saturday from St. James Lutheran Church, Hobbie. Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Heller Funeral Home, Nescopeck, or at the church 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. THOMAS – Dianne, funeral 11 a.m. Friday from the Yeosock Funeral Home, 40 S. Main St., Plains Township. Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. today. THOMAS – George Jr., Panihida 7 p.m. today at the George A. Strish Inc., Funeral Home, 105 N. Main St., Ashley. Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. WIVELL – Robert, funeral 10 a.m. today from the Straub Kane Funeral Home, 55 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre. YUDKOVITZ – Dorothy, friends may pay their respects 2 to 4 p.m. Friday and Sunday. ZAWIERUCHA – Peter, friends may call 5 to 9 p.m. today at the Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home, 802 Susquehanna Ave., West Pittston.
www.timesleader.com
‘Gorgeous’ avoids death
By TOM HAYS Associated Press
May 31, 2011
BALESTER – Jonathan, funeral 10:30 a.m. today at the Desiderio Funeral Home Inc., 679 Carey Ave., Hanover Township. BELARDI – Helen, funeral 9:30 a.m. today from the Victor M. Ferri Funeral Home, 522 Fallon St., Old Forge. Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Church at Prince of Peace Parish, West Grace and Lawrence Streets, Old Forge. BERLEW – William Sr., funeral 10 a.m. today from the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown. BURGESS – Mark, funeral 11 a.m. today in the Metcalfe and Shaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. GLUSHEFSKI – Edward, calling hours 1 to 2 p.m. today at DavisDinelli Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad St., Nanticoke. HOFFMAN – Roxanne, funeral 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the Clarke Piatt Funeral Home Inc., 6 Sunset Lake Road, Hunlock Creek. Friends may call at the funeral home 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. KLIMEK – Jennie, funeral 9:30 a.m. Friday from the Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains Township. Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Francis Church, Miners Mills. Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. today. KRAPF – Helene, funeral 9:30 a.m. today from Mamary-Durkin Funeral Service, 59 Parrish St., Wilkes-Barre. Services at 10 a.m. at St Anthony’s Maronite Church, Wilkes-Barre. LAZAROWICZ – Genevieve, Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. Saturday for Genevieve and her husband, Peter, at Holy Spirit Parish/St. Mary’s Church, Mocanaqua. MAKALA – Robert, funeral 10 a.m. Friday from the Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea. Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church, Duryea. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today. Wake service at 7:30 p.m. today. MITCHELL – Lynn, memorial services 11 a.m. Saturday at the Chapel of the Oak Lawn Cemetery, 1250 S. Main St., Hanover
R
Convicted mobster will spend life in jail after jury rebuffs call for death sentence.
Stanley John Grohowski
Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at his residence. Born July 28, 1940, in Wilkes Barre, he was a son of the late Stanley J. and Rose Bozenko Grohowski. Stanley attended Hanover High School and later enlisted in the U.S. National Guard. He was employed for many years at Economy Warehouse. He was also a member of the Teamsters Union 401, Wilkes-Barre, and a Home Association Member Post 350 American Legion, Nanticoke. Preceding him in death were his wife, Barbara; and sister, Dorothy Burlock. Surviving are his children, John Grohowski, Nanticoke; Todd Grohowski, Nanticoke; Tara Grohowski, Hanover Township; and Eric Grohowski, Nanticoke; step-children, Paula Zack, Hanover Township; Paul John Scrip, Askam; and Suzanne Haines, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Deric, Amber and Trevor Grohowski; Brittany Levandowski; Sierra Grohowski; Erica and Joey
A
May 27, 2011 Kae Billing, 69, of New D orothy Grove Street, Wilkes-Barre,
died Friday, May 27, 2011, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Born in Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late William John and Josephine Marie Marshall Billing. She was formerly employed as an LPN at Home Health Care. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Kenneth Cole; and brother, William John Billing Jr. Surviving are sons, John Zimmerman and wife, Gaby, Moulton, Ala., James Zimmerman and wife, Philomena, Hughestown, Jason Cole, Painesville, Ohio, and Kenneth Cole and companion, Lindsay, WilkesBarre; daughter Lisa Bukoski and husband, Alan, Hunlock Creek; five grandchildren, Kathleen Prest, Ma-
riah Zimmerman, Jennifer Zimmerman, Robert Zimmerman, and Stephen Zimmerman; and a sister, Sandra Billing, Wilkes-Barre. Funeral will be held at the convenience of the family from the Yeosock Funeral Home, Plains Township.
May 31, 2011
Highlands, N.J., passed away Tuesday evening, May 31, 2011, at his home. Ed retired from American Airlines after 35 years of service as a freight agent. He was a parishioner of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Knoxville. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Ed was an avid fisherman. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Churnetski; son and daughter-in-law, Ed and Lisa Churnetski of Knoxville; grandchildren, Amber Pfister and husband Brad, of
Louisville, Ky., and Edward M. Churnetski of Knoxville; brothers, Frank Churnetski of Rochester, N.Y., and Bernard Churnetski of Angola, N.Y.; as well as several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Stegura Funeral Home, 614 S. Hanover St., Nanticoke. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Faustina Catholic Church, 1030 S. Hanover St., Nanticoke, with Father James Nash celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. The Stegura Funeral Home is serving the Churnetski family.
Helen M. Soyka June 1, 2011 M. Soyka, 95, formerly of H elen Exeter, passed away Wednes-
day, June 1, 2011, in the Kingston Commons. Born in Exeter, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Elizabeth Kucanski Soyka. She was a graduate of Exeter High School, class of 1933, where she was the valedictorian of her class. Helen resided in Exeter all of her life. For 37 years, she worked in various dress shops in Pittston which were The Joanly Shop, Nathan’s and Leeds. She was a member of the former St. John the Baptist Church of Pittston, now St. John the Evangelist Parish Community. Helen’s passion was her gardening. Preceding her in death were sisters, Mary and Julia Soyka, Anna
Sharon O’Brien Dugan May 15, 2011
Edward L. Churnetski dward L. Churnetski, 86, of Knoxville, Tenn., formerly of E the Wyoming Valley and Atlantic
himself — in God’s time, not man’s.” The jury indicated on their verdict sheet that it didn’t buy prosecutors’ argument that Basciano posed a future threat. Ten of the 12 jurors wrote their decision also was based on the fact that other mobsters who “have admitted to an equal or greater number of serious crimes ... are not facing the death penalty.” Throughout the capital case, Basciano was a colorful presence in the courtroom. He had won Garaufis’ approval to wear a wardrobe of five different suits — one for each day of the week — and always kept his full head of gray hair carefully coiffed. He also gave regular pointers to his lawyers and even sparred with the judge at length over whether he could introduce new evidence while testifying on his own behalf. “I can’t properly defend myself,” he complained in one rant before deciding not to take the stand. Last year, the judge asked the Department of Justice to reconsider bringing a death penalty case — which at the time had already cost taxpayers more than $3 million — against a defendant who was already serving life without parole for a 2007 conviction. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn also was defying modern history: There’s been only one federal defendant — convicted police killer Ronell Wilson — sentenced to death in the city since 1954, and that decision was overturned on appeal. But prosecutors decided to press ahead anyway and showcase the straight-talking Massino at the guilt and penalty phases of the trial.
Hvasta and Susan Dennis; and brothers, John, Michael and George Soyka. Surviving are nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday from the Metcalfe and Shaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church of Pittston. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Exeter. Friends may call from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home.
O’Brien Dugan, 59, of PittS haron ston, died Sunday, May 15, 2011.
She was a daughter of Ruth Virginia Anderson O’Brien and the late William O’Brien. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, 535 N. Main St., Pittston. Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Paul F. Leonard Funeral Home, 575 N. Main St., Pittston.
OBITUARY POLICY The Times Leader publishes free obituaries, which have a 27-line limit, and paid obituaries, which can run with a photograph. A funeral home representative can call the obituary desk at (570) 829-7224, send a fax to (570) 829-5537 or e-mail to tlobits@timesleader.com. If you fax or e-mail, please call to confirm. Obituaries must be submitted by 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Obituaries must be sent by a funeral home or crematory, or must name who is handling arrangements, with address and phone number. We discourage handwritten notices; they incur a $15 typing fee.
G en etti’s
A fterFu nera lLu ncheons Sta rting a t$7.95 p erp erson
H otelBerea vem entR a tes
825.6477