Pani Isabelle Sopoliga

Pani Isabelle Sopoliga
On Monday, Feb. 16, Pani Isabelle (Durdon) Sopoliga, 94, wife of the late Very Rev. Msgr. Michael Sopoliga, fell asleep in the Lord at the St. Luke Hospice, Center Valley.
Born in Johnson City, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Peter and Anna (Lucas) Durdon. She was married in 1944 at St. Michael Orthodox Church, Binghamton, N.Y. She dedicated her life working alongside her priest husband of 64 years as he served parishes in Jenners and Wilpen, Pa., Bayonne, N.J., and, for 42 years, their beloved people and parish of St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church, Nesquehoning.She was the devoted mother of Claudia Ann Zile, wife of Zoland (Skip) Zile, and Daria Marie Hallahan, married to J. Richard Hallahan. Also surviving are a brother, Peter Durdon, and his wife, Pat; and a huge number of nieces and nephews and their families. Surrounding her life were five grandchildren, Jessica Zile, David Zile, and his wife, Catherine, Michael Zile, and his wife, Jillian, Natasha Hallahan Fullman, and her husband, Zach, and Nicholas Hallahan and Jamie Bosch. Her pride and joy centered around the seven (almost eight) great-grandchildren who continuously embraced her heart: Ariana, Mitchell, Lauren, Kaitlyn, Jocelyn, Hannah, Avery and, due in August, Baby Fullman. And not to be forgotten, the family pets will all deeply miss her as she was quite good at sneaking food to them and giving them her special hugs.
Service: Divine Liturgy 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church, 9 W. Railroad St., Nesquehoning, with the Rev. Robert J. Teklinski officiating and the Rev. Robert J. Rebeck concelebrating. Interment, parish cemetery, Nesquehoning. Call 6-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday in the church. Panachida service 7 p.m. Friday. Memorial gifts in her name may be made to the Christ the Savior Seminary, 312 Garfield St., Johnstown, Pa. 15906, or ddd.acrod.org. Arrangements by Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning.