Albert R. Brocious

COAL TOWNSHIP — Albert R. Brocious, 57, of 1714 Pulaski Ave., died Thursday night, May 21, 2009, at Shamokin Area Community Hospital. He had courageously fought cancer for nine years, which suddenly took a turn for the worse. Within a few days, with family by his side, he was embraced in our Lord and Savior's arms.

Born in Ashland Hospital on May 15, 1952, he was a son of the late Russell and Olga Brocious.

He graduated from Mount Carmel Area High School in 1970, and attended Stevens Trade School in Lancaster, earning an associate's degree in sheet metal. After graduation, he worked for several steel foundries, including Ashland Steel and Bethlehem Steel, before working for Pine Grove Homes. He retired because of illness.

Al was married on Sept. 28, 1988, in Shamokin, to the former Barrie Kay Alleman, who survives.

Al lived as a Navy brat. Before moving to Mount Carmel, he lived mostly in California. As a young man, he was a Cub Scout leader for Pack No. 3178 in Mount Carmel. He was a member of the Mount Carmel Rescue Squad, where he operated the Jaws of Life, and at West End Fire Company in Mount Carmel. He tended bar at the Wilburton Fire Company.

He was of the Methodist faith and served as an usher at St. John's United Methodist Church, Coal Township.

He was an avid fisherman, always waiting on trout stocking so he could begin the season, hitting every stream and then cooking them on Sunday. Many summers were spent camping at Indian Rivers, Del., so he could fish. When fishing season was over, he cheered for his beloved Raiders, decorating his house with their colors and dressing head to toe with his team's clothing. He wore his Raiders clothing through the whole season.

There wasn't anything that Al wasn't good at, and he was never afraid to tackle something new. He'd find a way to have it done. If he was called to help, he was at your door before you hung up the phone. He spent hours remodeling and building things for other people, never accepting payment. Friendship and family were foremost, and a thank you was all he needed. He loved to make flower arrangements, pillows and curtains for family.

He and his wife spent hours many times a week making baskets full of goodies for the Mountain View Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center flings, buying the items themselves, just so the center could make a couple dollars for the residents.

Al was a cook and enjoyed creating new recipes for Sunday dinner, never telling family what they were going to eat, just grinning when they told him how good it tasted. All summer, he enjoyed putting out an array of food — which he prepared himself, including fish — and swimming in his pool. He spent many hours on his flower and vegetable gardens, always planning what he would grow the next year.

Vacations to Cancun, Bahamas and Aruba were enjoyed because of his love of snorkeling, fishing and surfing. When he lived in California, surfing was a big part of his life, and he was very good at it. When he went to the islands, he complained the waves just weren't big enough.

He most enjoyed spending time with his wife and sons, Russell and Danny. Whether they were fishing or just being together, they enjoyed the moment. He became a grandfather this year and, even for a short time, relished changing diapers and giving bottles to baby Danny.

In addition to his wife, Albert is survived by two sons, Russell Brocious, of Mount Carmel, and Daniel Clayton Dietz, of Coal Township; a grandson, Daniel Albert Dietz, of Coal Township; a sister, Mary Ann Plisiewicz and husband Clement, of Mount Carmel; a sister-in-law Molly Paczkowski and husband Denny, of Shamokin; two brothers-in-law, Roger Alleman and wife Bonnie, of Shamokin, and Nelson Alleman and companion Heidi Toland, of Mount Carmel; mother-in-law, Eleanor Alleman of Shamokin, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Elaine Miller, and grandparents Michael and Ann Berkanski and Daniel and Sarah Brocious.

Albert will be truly missed. He was an angel on Earth and surely an angel with our Lord, and we wait until we can embrace him again. May he look down on us and feel our love.

BROCIOUS — Albert R. Brocious, 57, 1741 Pulaski Ave., Coal Township. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's United Methodist Church, West Arch Street at Eagle Avenue, Coal Township, with Pastor Nelson Alleman, Al's brother-in-law, presiding. Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. until the time of the service Tuesday in the church. Burial of his cremains will be in Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Mountain View Manor Resident Fund, 2080 Trevorton Road, Coal Township 17866. Services were entrusted to James Kelley Funeral Home, 1001 W. Arch St. at Maple Street, Coal Township.