Irene A. Zavislak

Irene A. Zavislak, 79, of Main Street, Sugar Notch, died Friday, July 10, 2015, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

She was born in Sugar Notch on April 14, 1936, the daughter of the late Peter and Anna Condiracci Kaskiel. She was a life resident of Sugar Notch, where she graduated from Sugar Notch High School in 1953.

She was employed as a presser in the garment industry for many years.

She was a member of Holy Family Parish, Sugar Notch.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 22 years, Thomas George Zavislak, on Jan. 5, 1981, and brothers, Robert and Gerald Kaskiel.

Irene was a kind, compassionate and strong woman. After the untimely death of her husband, Thomas, she devoted her life to raising and caring for her young children. She enjoyed crocheting and made numerous blankets for her family and friends, which are still used today by them on cold wintery nights. She and her husband Tom donated much of their time working with many church and civic events from which many friendships prospered. Irene also loved to travel and play bingo, she treasured the friends she met there. She especially enjoyed attending family sporting events. She always had a warm meal and a smile for family and visitors, especially during the holidays where she made an abundance of food.

Irene was a devoted wife and mother. She never missed an opportunity to wear the special medal given to her by her husband, Thomas, that read, "You are my one and only."

Irene was always ahead of her time with regard to learning and teaching life's lessons. She was a guiding light to her three children, who she was devoted to until the end. She possessed a great sense of humor which made her life easier, always believing in the spoken truth. She continuously put her family and friends before herself, relinquishing her own dreams. All these traits made her a truly special woman, mother, grandmother and friend. She was sincerely loved and will be sorrowfully missed: "We love you mom."

Surviving are her sons, Darrell Zavislak and his wife, Judith, Hunlock Creek; and Gerard Zavislak, Trucksville; daughter, Deborah Miller, Sinking Spring; two grandchildren, Hayley Ann Zavislak and Madison Miller; and sisters-in-law, Kathy and Barbara Kaskiel. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday from George A. Strish Inc. Funeral Home, 105 N. Main St., Ashley.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. in Holy Family Church, Sugar Notch.

Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Friends may call for memorial visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Friday.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staff of the Sixth Floor Telemetry Unit at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for their kind and compassionate care given to Irene in her time of need.