Dr. Edward L. Kurello

Dr. Edward L. Kurello, 92, of Highland Drive, Hanover Township, and Deerfield Beach, Fla., passed into the hands of the Lord Monday, April 11, 2016, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He gave of himself for the betterment of others. He was a proud, humble, compassionate man.

Edward was born in Lee Park to the late Genevieve and Phillip Kurello.

After graduation from Hanover Township High School, he served the U.S. Army Air Forces as a staff sergeant from 1943 to 1945. During his tour of duty he was involved in the D-Day invasion and saw the end of World War II.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Scranton and worked at Sperry Gyroscope Co. and Bendix Engineering, where he helped invent the centrifugal switch. He went on to receive his doctorate of osteopathic medicine and surgery from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was a member of the Iota Tau Sigma fraternity, the Catholic Guild, the Internal Medicine Society and the Undergraduate Academy of Applied Osteopathy. He completed his medical internship at the Allentown Osteopathic Hospital. He remained an active member of the American Osteopathic Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

In 1967 Dr. Kurello began his medical practice and served as the first osteopathic physician in the Wyoming Valley as a staff member at Mercy Hospital, Nanticoke Hospital, Wyoming Valley Hospital and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. He was president of the medical staff at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, for many years, as well as the medical director at Hampton House, St. Stanislaus and the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. During his career, the Hanover Hawkeyes welcomed him as their team physician, which he enjoyed immensely. His passion for football took him to more than 40 Super Bowl games.

Dr. Kurello took much pleasure in his yard, the accordion, piano, organ, and relished his time on the golf course as a member of the Wyoming Valley Country Club. But there was no greater love than the love he had for his loving daughter, Deborah, grandsons, Mark and Jonathan, daughter-in-law, Eirinn, and his great-grandson, Eddy Jay.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; sister, Genevieve; and brother, Henry.

Surviving are his daughter, Deborah; grandsons, Mark Edward and Jonathan; great-grandson, Eddy Jay; sisters, Stacia and Helen; and his brother, Leonard.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday from Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 a.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish at St. Aloysius Church, Barney and Division streets, Wilkes-Barre.

Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Caron Foundation Adolescent Addiction Treatment Center in Wernersville, www.caron.org, or Blue Chip Farm, www.bcfanimalrefuge.org.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting Dr. Kurello's obituary at www.natandgawlasfuneralhome.com.