Carol Anne Hogarty

SHAMOKIN — Carol Anne Hogarty, 67, of 148 S. Shamokin St., lost her 2 1/2 year battle with cancer on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.

She was a lesson in courage as she battled vicious melanoma. She never gave up hope, never cried out in pain and was an inspiration to all who saw her fighting spirit.

Being a hospice patient for just over two months, she passed away at home with her family at her side, with the comfort of knowing she would see the Lord our Father in Heaven.

Melanoma never took her spirit as it relentlessly spread throughout her body, but it was an adversary that couldn't be stopped.

Born in Shamokin on June 29, 1942, she was a daughter of the late Julius and Beatrice (Thomas) Christiana.

She received her education at St. Edward's Grade School, Shamokin Catholic High School and Our Lady of Lourdes High School.

In 1960, Carol married Frank Hogarty, who survives. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in a few months.

She resided at her Shamokin Street address since 1971, and was a lifelong member of the former St. Edward's Church, now Mother Cabrini Church.

Blessed with an outgoing, friendly personality, Carol had many friends. She worked in the office at Weis Markets in Shamokin, and later as a receiver at Scot's Lo-Cost, in Coal Township. After her retirement a few years ago, she continued to work part-time, because she just loved being able to interact with people.

Over the years, Carol had many interests and continued to participate in some of them, including tennis, bicycling, fishing, music and dancing, cooking, competition shooting and visiting wineries. She liked playing cards with her friends, and was quite skilled at and truly enjoyed playing Blackjack. She loved traveling and flying, and her beagle "Bailey."

Carol was an excellent cook and loved to have her house filled with her family, especially for her famous Christmas lasagna dinner.

As grandchildren began to enter her life, her focus changed to them. She truly enjoyed all the time spent with them, but most especially with her special-needs grandson, Chase.

In addition to her husband, Frank, Carol is survived by two daughters, Carol Jean Chernago and husband Ronald, and Patty Tamkus and companion Ken Zurick, all of Shamokin; a son, F. Michael Hogarty and companion Danette Kerstetter, of Elysburg; five grandchildren, David and Kimberly Tamkus, and Jamie Lynn, Haley and Chase Hogarty; two great-grandchildren, Jack Tamkus and Jelani Hogarty; two sisters, Nancy Smith, of California, and Phyllis Barrett, of Shamokin; three brothers, James Christiana, Richard Christiana and wife Suzy, and Dennis Christiana and wife Sue, all of Shamokin; an aunt, Faye Hornberger, of Palmyra, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Julius Christiana, and a sister, Peggy Christiana.

Goodbye, Carol, with all our love.

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HOGARTY — Carol Anne Hogarty, 67, of 148 S. Shamokin St., Shamokin. Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Friday at Mother Cabrini Church, Shamokin. Burial will follow in St. Edward's Cemetery, Coal Township. There will be no viewing. The Stephen A. Chowka Funeral Home, 114 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, has charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to VNA Health System Crossings Hospice, 21 W. Independence St., Shamokin 17872, to Geisinger Medical Center Oncology Department, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville 17822 or to Mother Cabrini Church, 214 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin 17872.