Bernadine Zglinicki Smith Elick

Bernadine Zglinicki Smith Elick, 91, of Wilkes-Barre Twp., passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

She was born in Glen Lyon, a daughter of the late John and Mary Zmijewski Zglinicki. Bernadine was a graduate of Newport Twp. High School and Wilkes-Barre Business College.

Prior to her retirement in 1997, she was employed by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District as an office secretary at the administration building, Kistler Elementary and GAR Memorial High School. Bernadine also served as a secretary and spokesperson for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District Secretarial Union until her retirement. Bernadine was a Wilkes-Barre correspondent for the Sunday Independent and columnist for the Times Leader for five years and columnist for The Citizens' Voice since 2004.

Bernadine was an active member of her community. She formerly served as the first Wilkes-Barre Twp. secretary. She was also a member and secretary of the Wilkes-Barre Twp. Senior Citizens and former member and secretary-treasurer of the Wilkes-Barre Twp. Democratic Organization and served as the first secretary of the Wilkes-Barre Twp. Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. Bernadine was formerly an usher at the F.M. Kirby Center and she volunteered for the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society for many years.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Monastery in Wilkes-Barre Twp. prior to becoming a member of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre.

Bernadine was a very proud and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved her family dearly. She enjoyed playing bingo, puzzles, attending church bazaars, traveling and seeing our country by air, train and bus, dinner shows or just spending time with friends and family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Smith; second husband, Thomas Elick; son, Richard Smith; grandson, Erik Smith; brother, Charles Zglenicki; and sister, Theresa Gardner.

Bernadine is survived by her children, Ronald Smith and his wife, Antoinette; Romayne Smith Petroski and her husband, David; Thomas Elick Jr. and his wife, Michelle; and Ralph Elick and his fiancée, Trisha Sharkey; grandchildren, Pamela Smith; Kurt Smith; and Jessica Ziobro and her husband, James; Logan, Blake and Thomas Elick III; great-grandchildren, Bennett Ziobro; Richard Dean Smith; and Scarlett Marie Smith; stepgrandchildren, Eric, Kyle and Luke Petroski; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bernadine's life will begin with a visitation for family and friends from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 a.m. Parking is available in the church parking lots on South Hancock Street. Interment will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery, Pringle.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in Bernadine's name to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be sent by visiting Bernadine's obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre.