Elaine Marie Parette DeAngelis

1950 - 2023

Elaine Marie Parette DeAngelis, 73, of Peckville, formerly of Olyphant, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 17, at Lakewood Rehabilitation Center after an illness. Her husband is John DeAngelis. The couple was married for 34 years.

Born in Scranton and raised in Olyphant, she was the daughter of the late Angelo and Josephine Fonzo Parette. She was a graduate of Olyphant High School, where she was a proud member of the cheerleading squad.

Always a hard worker, Elaine worked at the Tony's Pizza Palace, the Ideal Restaurant and the Globe Store prior to having a 30-plus year career in banking at the First National Bank of Jessup, where she knew everyone and enjoyed the daily banter with her customers and co-workers, who all became her friends. After retirement, she worked part time at Johnson College, where she mentored students who were able to learn from her positive attitude toward her many experiences in life. While working at Johnson College she took many continuing education classes as she truly enjoyed learning more about every subject she possibly could. She spent the last 40-plus years of her life happily living with John in Peckville. She was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville.

Elaine could walk into a room and light it up. And if it didn't light up she would make her way around the room, speaking to everyone, until it did light up and everyone was having a better time, even if they really didn't want to. She lived by the old adage that "you get more flies with honey than with vinegar," which she learned at a young age and passed down to her son and grandchildren.

Elaine didn't always have an easy life, but she always tried to find the good in things. Growing up in a large household that watched every penny, she truly understood the value of hard work as well as the value of having great friends, most of which she still counted as great friends until the day she passed. Her hard work did lead to her purchasing a 1967 Chevy Camaro SS, royal blue with white racing stripes, which she always remembered and spoke about. She used it to get back and forth to parties where she was the one "with a lampshade on her head."

Her first marriage was to Walter Rosiecki, and although the marriage did not work out as planned, it did produce "the best thing that ever happened to her," her son Walter. Her most important and proudest feat was that along with Walter and John they raised Walter in an environment of love, support and safety, where everyone got along and Walter never knew any hardship of divorce. She was the most loving and supportive mother a son could ever imagine, even when her son maybe made a slight mistake and received an escort home from the Blakely Police Department. Sorry about that, mom. Elaine never put herself first in any situation, always her Walter. She could always be found on the bleachers at Walter's numerous sporting events. Her passing leaves an unfillable void in his life, but her legacy of love and support will live on though his parenting of his children Nicholas, Samuel and Abigail.

Her second marriage to John "Johnny D" DeAngelis was a match made in heaven ... or possibly Olyphant, with a St. Patrick's of Olyphant boy marrying an Olyphant High School girl. Since they were re-acquainted later in life John and Elaine were inseparable. It was very rare you would see one without the other. The two defined what true love was, nothing proud or glamorous, just the honest and simple love, caring and concern for another human being. If you spent any time around them it was remarkably evident the amount of love they had for each other - although that love was sometimes intertwined with quick remarks and playful insults. Together with Walter they made up the "Three Musketeers" and had many, many adventures together wherever one of their many Toyota Camrys would take them.

Later in life her greatest joy came from being "NoNa" to Nicholas, Samuel, Abigail, Olivia, Giuliana and Jacob. NoNa was always quick to help in any situation she was needed, which included purchasing copious amounts of diapers, baby food and socks. If you met her while out on the town, you were sure to see her "brag book" with pictures of all of her grandchildren. There was a time when young that Nicholas wanted dinner with NoNa and NoNo every night, because NoNa made the best mac and cheese.

A story about Elaine would not be complete without mentioning that she was a breast cancer survivor, she never succumbed to breast cancer, she defeated it. Elaine never let the disease define her, she made it empower her to help others struggling against it. Throughout her diagnosis, surgeries, treatment and remission she made lifelong friends with numerous other ladies and gentlemen that were fighting the disease. While she unfortunately lost a lot of her friends along the way, we can now hope her spirit is now with them somewhere out there, talking about good times and laughing about the past.

Mom, thank you for everything, including the astronomical amount of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches through the years. I love you, I am so proud of you and I won't let you down.

Also surviving are a son, Walter Rosiecki and wife, Melissa, South Abington Twp.; and a stepson, Lee DeAngelis and wife, Lisa, Jessup; grandchildren, Nicholas, Samuel and Abigail Rosiecki, and Olivia, Giuliana and Jacob DeAngelis; a brother, Ray Parette and wife, Fran; and a sister, Joan Parette. She was preceded in death by a sister, Gloria; and brother, Joseph Parette.

The family would like to thank the administration and staff at Lakewood Rehabilitation Center in Nanticoke. When no other centers would, Lakewood took a chance on having Elaine as a guest and ensured her comfort throughout her journey.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Louis M. Margotta Funeral Home, 511 Church St., Jessup. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon, with a blessing service at noon. For online condolences, go to www.margotta

funeralhomes.com.