Edward E. Hricko

Edward E. Hricko, 88, of Madison Street in the North End section of Wilkes-Barre, passed into eternal life Thursday morning, Nov. 21, 2013, at Riverstreet Manor, Wilkes-Barre, following a lingering illness.

Born Dec. 6, 1924 in Archbald, he was a son to the late Peter and Anna Estock Hricko. He was a graduate of the former Archibald High School. Following his education, Mr. Hricko proudly served our country during the Second World War with the United States Army in the European Theater, stationed in Italy. He was recipient of several awards and citations upon the time of his honorable discharge in 1945.

Until his retirement, he was employed as a floral arranger by Evans-King Floral of Forty Fort. Following retirement, Ed served as a funerary assistant with the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes of Wilkes-Barre for 13 years.

Ed was a member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Wilkes-Barre, where he remained active in church affairs, and held membership in the North End Slovak Citizens Club and the Joseph E. Conlon Post 558 of the American Legion, Plains Township.

He and his wife, the former Mary Marshalla, celebrated 63 years of married life on Aug. 5 of this year. Together, the couple served as volunteers with Meals on Wheels for more than 15 years.

He was preceded in death by sisters, Anna Perry, Irene Uhrin, Helen Zenzel, Margaret Farkas, Pauline Baron and Josephine Meholic.

Surviving, in addition to his beloved wife, Mary, at home, are daughters, Nancy Divers and Tony Romanoski, Kingston; Mary Beth Soltis and her husband, John, Drums; grandchildren, Marc Divers and his wife, Heather; Jason Soltis and his wife, Sylvia; and Jennifer Soltis; great-grandchildren, including Shelby, Alec and Noah Divers, David Soltis; sisters, Mary Zenzel, Olyphant; Theresa Hanichak, Whitehall; brothers, Joseph Hricko, Ocala, Fla.; and Cyril Hricko, Miramar, Fla.; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Hricko will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the North Wilkes-Barre location of the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc., 625 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, followed by services at 10:30 a.m. in St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Gary John Scharrer, pastor, officiating. Interment with rite of committal will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Route 415, Dallas.

Relatives and friends may join Ed's family for visitation and remembrances from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions may be made in Ed's name to St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 663 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705.

To send his wife and family online words of comfort, support and friendship at this time, please visit our family's website at www.JohnVMorrisFuneralHomes.com.