Susan Ann Ventre

Susan Ann Ventre, M.D., 74, of Waverly, died peacefully on Saturday at her residence. Her husband, the late Dr. Gilbert P. Franklin, D.D.S., died December 16, 2003.

She was born May 23, 1937, in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, as the daughter of the late Henry and Sue Fabbo Ventre. Dr. Ventre attended Old Forge High School. After high school, she matriculated at Penn State University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958.

Determined to pursue a career in medicine at a time when few women served in that profession, she then enrolled at Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences. Through diligent study and hard work, she graduated at the top of her medical school class and was honored with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1962. Dr. Ventre completed her internship and residency in pediatrics and served as a resident at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as well as at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York, N.Y. She also practiced medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center. She received her Board Certification in Pediatric Medicine in 1967. She additionally devoted several years to teaching medical students at the Downstates Medical College of New York.

Dr. Ventre returned to the area in 1979 and quickly established a thriving medical practice serving the children and families of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her greatest joy was attending to babies and young children, and she always made sure that her office was a warm and inviting place, decorated with colorful panoramas and staffed by friendly and caring nurses. Generous with her time and resources, she made sure each of her patients received the very best care. She took great pride in watching her young patients grow from infants into healthy young adults. The picture board she maintained in her office showing the happy faces of all the children she cared for throughout her 30 years of service to the local community is perhaps the most fitting testament of the dedication and love with which she practiced medicine.

She was passionate about her work and loved every minute of it. After 46 years of dedicated service, Dr. Ventre retired in 2009.

Dr. Ventre's other great love was her family. She is remembered by all whose lives she touched for her kindness and generosity. Although she will be deeply missed, we will continue to celebrate her accomplishments and her love and commitment to her family, friends and community. Susan was a member of the Church of St. Gregory, Clarks Green, as well as professional associations, including the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She was also a longtime member of the Lackawanna County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Dr. Ventre also served for many years on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of Pagnotti Enterprises, a company co-founded by her father. The local area was important to her, and she supported many local arts, and health and human services community organizations through her generosity.

Surviving Dr. Ventre are two sisters: Lucretia Carney, New York, New York, and Janet Rizzo, Sewell, New Jersey. In addition, her immediate family includes Janet Riz zo's husband, Barry; her nephew, attorney David H. Swisher, his wife Patricia, and their sons, Chris and Will, all of Glenburn Township; her nephew, Mark H. DeStefano, Scranton; her nephew, Dr. Jeffrey Swisher, his wife Dana, and their children, Henry, Peter and Kate, all of Larkspur, California; and niece, Kara Swisher, her wife, Megan Smith, and their children, Louis and Alexander, all of San Francisco, California.

The funeral and celebration of Dr. Ventre's life will be Friday, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Gregory, 330 North Abington Road, Clarks Green, to be celebrated by Rev. John M. Lapera, pastor, and concelebrant Monsignor John H. Louis, pastor emeritus. The entombment will follow at Cathedral Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 111 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania 18411. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Women's Resource Center, P.O. Box 975, Scranton, PA 18501-0975 or through the organization's website at www.wrcne pa.org. For more information, directions, or to send an online condolence, please visit www.jennings calvey.com.