October 6, 2012
Lillian Mayka, 93 of South Main Road, Mountain Top, passed away Saturday morning, October 6th at Mountain Top Senior Care Center.
She was born in Dugger, Indiana, on December 28, 1918, the daughter of the late Thomas Morgan and Betty Hope Morgan Jones, and relocated to Nanticoke. She would later move to Mountain Top in 1950, where she lived the remainder of her life.
She graduated from Nanticoke High School in 1936, and received her bachelor's degree from Bucknell University. She also received a master's degree equivalence, attending Columbia University of New York City, New York; Boston University, Boston Mass., and Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. She also acquired a master's degree in comparative education from Wilkes University.
She was an educator in the Crestwood School District for 30 years. She began her career as a Social Studies and English teacher at Fairview High School, and later taught French at Crestwood High School. She held the position of guidance counselor at the time of her retirement.
Lillian was an active member of the Mountain Top Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Wilkes-Barre Business and Professional Women's Organization, Pennsylvania Retired Teachers Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward W. Mayka; infant sister, Phyllis, and daughter-in-law, Camille Mudrak Mayka.
Surviving are her sons, Edward R. Mayka; Thomas J. Mayka and his wife, Esther; a daughter, Linda J. Mayka Schwartz, and her husband, James, all of Mountain Top. She was the grandmother of 10, including Diane Mayka-Nulton and her husband, Matt, of Shermansdale, Pa.; David Mayka and his wife, Delia, of Katy, Texas; Tanya Mayka-Cease and her husband, Charles, of Muhlenburg; Danielle Mayka Godshall and her husband, Charles, of Quakertown, Pa.; Camille Mayka-Otto and her husband, Will, of Marysville, Pa.; Tara Mayka of Philadelphia; Thomas R. Mayka of Mountain Top; Adriane Schwartz Adamczyk of Mountain Top; Laura Schwartz of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Edward Schwartz of Mountain Top. She was also a great-grandmother to Sarah Cease, Stephanie Reyes, Jennifer Reyes, Cassandra Nulton, Isaac Nulton, Christopher Godshall, Logan Godshall, Mia Reyes, Bodhi Malay and Lillian Rose Schwartz-Hernandez. She is also survived by her brother, George Morgan, and his wife, Lillian, of Bartow, Florida, and nieces and nephews.
Lillian's family would like to thank the staff of the Mountain Top Senior Care Center and Compassionate Care Hospice for the kindness and care they provided.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 9 Chestnut Street, Mountain Top, with the Rev. James Shanley officiating.
Interment will be in Albert Cemetery, Wright Township.
Friends may call at the church from 10:30 a.m.. until time of service on Friday, and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Charles L. Cease Funeral Home, 634 Reyburn Road, Shickshinny.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Mountain Top Presbyterian Church, 9 Chestnut Street, Mountain Top, PA 18707.
For directions or on line condolences please visit www.charleslceasefuneralhome.com.
