John "Jack" Martin

John "Jack" Martin, 100, of Trucksville, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at Riverstreet Manor, Wilkes-Barre.

Born in Connellsville, he was the son of the late Harry and Nellie Jaynes Martin. He attended the Immaculate Conception Grade School and Connellsville High School, Class of 1941. During the war, he worked on a defense priority project, working as a welder's helper on the "BIG INCH" gas line installation and, for a short period, he worked at Anchor Hocking, Connellsville.

The family relocated to the Wilkes-Barre area after the war where Jack and his father operated Martin's Super Service Station in Trucksville for several years, which was located between Pioneer Avenue and the highway. During that same period, he also worked full-time at BF Goodrich for 43 years as the shipping and receiving clerk and, for many years, he worked part-time for Clyde Birth's Esso Station in Dallas. After a short period of retirement, Jack returned to work in St. Therese's Church in Shavertown as the Sacristan until his retirement at the age of 92.

Jack was married to the former Bernadine "Deany" Trynoski and were together for 56 years until her death in 2008.

He loved music and was first chair trombone as a member of the award-winning Connellsville High School Band and looked back with pride remembering marching in Washington, D.C. In later years, he was a member of the "Night Timers" band, playing drums for many weddings, clam bakes and local clubs and was proud of one booking that lasted 40 weekends.

Jack loved his family, and was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked what he really enjoyed in life, he stated his family, working and Deany's cooking.

He loved his time at St Therese's and greeted everyone with a smile. His dedication and service to the church was tremendous, never missing a day. He enjoyed talking with people and loved a good joke, usually giggling before he got to the punchline; so, with that, he wanted to leave us with one more joke: "There was a couple who had season tickets to the RailRiders baseball games. They never missed a game and were well-known to the folks that sat around them. One day, the man showed up for a game, and the people asked him where his wife was. He said she passed away. After offering their condolences, they asked why he didn't bring along another family member for the game, and he replied that they were all at the funeral."

In addition to his parents, and his wife, Deany, Jack was preceded in death by his sister Laura Catherine Ray; and his brother, Monsignor Ralph L. Martin.

Surviving are his children, Cathy Connolly (Jack), Baltimore, Md.; Jack Martin (Jennie), Dallas; and Lorraine Symons (Cal), Shavertown; grandchildren, Chris Connolly (Devon), Sean Connolly (Kat), Joannah Perez (Ken), Tim Martin (Angela), Brian Martin, Cara Nolan, Rachel Kohli (Gerrid); and 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Riverview Ridge and Riverstreet Manor for all their care and kindness to Jack. A special thank you to all his friends that took the time to visit. The family would also like to acknowledge our sister, Lorraine, whose care and involvement made life much easier for our father.

Funeral services will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday from Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Inc. 140 N. Main St., Shavertown, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Therese's Church, 64 Davis St., Shavertown. The Rev James Paisley will serve as officiant. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Riverstreet Manor for the Resident Activity Fund, 440 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.