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Joseph A. Adams, 74, a resident of Shavertown, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at his home.
His wife, best friend and the true love of his life was the late Kathleen M. "Kathy" (Conwell) Adams, who passed away Aug. 16, 2013. Joe and Kathy were blessed to share 49 wonderful years of marriage.
Born May 26, 1942, in Wilkes-Barre, Joseph was the eldest of six children born to the late Joseph Adzema and Margaret (Derzak) Adzema.
Joe was a graduate of the former St. Nicholas High School, Class of 1960. Following high school, he went on to further his education at King's College where, in 1964, he received his bachelor's degree in sociology. Later, he went on to attend the University of Scranton, where he received his master's degree in counseling.
A U.S. Army veteran, Joe honorably served his country as a specialist during the Vietnam War era, and was stationed in Germany for the majority of his active service. He also served for many years as an Army Reservist with the 109th Field Artillery, Kingston.
Prior to his retirement, Joe was employed for 30 years as a disability adjudication supervisor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A man of great faith, Joe was a longtime member of St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, Shavertown, where he formerly served as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.
Over his lifetime, Joe was a member of multiple community organizations and held various offices in St. Conrad's Young Men's Society, Wilkes-Barre; the Elks Lodge 109, Pringle; the American Legion, Post 672, Dallas; the Back Mountain Wrestling Club; and the Back Mountain Cultural Center.
Joe was a proud father who was always there to support and encourage his children. He believed that through travel, his children would be able to expand their horizons by experiencing new cultures, so he and his wife enjoyed taking their children on trips to many different places over the years, creating many happy memories along the way.
In addition to his parents, Joseph and Margaret Adzema, and his wife, Kathy, Joe was preceded in death by his nephew, Christopher Lewis.
Joe is survived by his children, Kathleen Pellegrin and her husband, Timothy, East Stroudsburg; and Thomas Adams and his fiancée, Jen Griffiths, Hanover Township; his grandchildren, Madison Pellegrin, Christian Pellegrin, Kaitlyn Adams, Brooke Adams and Thomas Adams Jr.; his brothers, Chuck Adzema, Mickel Adzema and his wife, Marilyn, and James Adzema and his wife, Sharon, all of California; his sisters, Mary Ann Lewis and her husband, John, West Wyoming; and Peggy Pritchard and her husband, Mike, York; as well as his many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, which will be conducted at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday from Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Therese Church, 64 Davis St., Shavertown, with the Rev. James J. Paisley, his pastor, officiating.
Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton, where military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army.
Family and friends are invited to call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
For additional information, or to send Joe's family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
I have known Joe Adams (and Kathy Adams) a long time and theirs was a very special marriage where "family meant all"; Joe was born a year before me and I met him about when I was five years old; many tremendous memories; Someone just said in this guest book " ...Joe was best person I ever met at DDS.." I know he was very smart, and I know he did so many wonderfulllll things! (he served his country, he was a great son, an awesome cousin, and he knew how to relax; My wife and I along with Joe and Kathy shared the NY World's Fair and so many memories at our homes and in his backyard pool. We shared so much and enjoyed each other, especially because his father and my father were brothers. We hope to share in the next year when we should gather to celebrate the great ethic that our parents showed to us (which said always try hard and always do right!). We extend our deepest condolences to both Kathy Ann and Tommy and ALSO to ALL OF JOE'S ENTIRE FAMILY! We will always miss our "Joe" ! God bless Joe and Kathy and all their family. signed, Jack & Monica
Jack (John) Adzema
January 24, 2017
Our deepest sympathy for your loss. May you find comfort in Jesus words at Matthew 11:29-30. There He invites all to, Come to Him, when you are experiencing pain and sorrow, because of loosing a loved one in death, and He will help you to
endure this difficult time. Please know that our Heavenly Father will soon keep his promise to reunite us with our loved ones. John 6:39-40
T Glenn
January 24, 2017
In Memory of Joe: to my cousins, the extended family and his friends, my sincere condolences.
I have very fond memories of visiting my dad's brother, my uncle Joe and my aunt Margaret and my six cousins in Wilkes Barre, PA. Playing on the slag heaps, being chased by the railroad cops, the normal bad stuff kids just love to do. This happens when the adults begin to talk and in our family start to argue about politics not long after the first beer.
What I remember most is the love in the family and the fun loving nature of the Adzema clan in Pennsysvania. Joe had a twinkle in his eye and that mischievous smile that was soon enjoying a good laugh at you and your silly ways, memories or ideas or with you over something we thought really important. There would be a sudden seriousness and furious turn in the conversation only to again become the object of another belly laugh. This was our in-law's family's magic for me. The full swing of tragic and comic and the absurdity of life and our lives in it. How alive I always felt after our visit.
I am so sorry I can can not be there to celebrate Joe's life. He being the oldest of my cousins epitomized this fun loving Adzema spirit for me. Even as we grew older, and although Joe and I were not that close as we aged, his smile and ready laugh lights up my life when I can remember it .
Life is to short to take too seriously was the message. For you there, please keep up that tradition. I hope you can have a good laugh as he departs from us. He would love it.
Robert Adzema
January 23, 2017
Prayers and condolences to the family from a fellow Elk.
Bernie Feist
January 23, 2017
The best person I ever met at DDS.
January 21, 2017
Tom and family we are sorry for your loss. May God grant you His peace.
June Sonnenberg
January 21, 2017
Sorry for your loss, your Dad and I went to St. Nicholas together. Prayers.
Carol(Jozwiak)Karver
January 21, 2017
I'm sorry for your loss. May God grant you peace to cope with your loss Phillippians 4:6,7.
January 21, 2017
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