Michael Mikitish

Michael Mikitish, 92, of Duryea, passed away Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Wesley Village Nursing Home, Jenkins Township, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Pittston, he was a son of the late Stephen and Anna Mikitish. He was a graduate of Pittston High School, Class of 1941, and attended Wilkes University when he returned from the military service.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in both Europe and the Pacific, landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day in 1944 and participating in the military campaign to take the island of Okinawa, Japan, in 1945.

He was formerly employed by the Smithsonian Institute of National Aeronautics Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where he was involved in the restoration of many historical aircraft and space vehicles, including Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. He made his home in Washington, D.C., for 29 years before returning to the area in 1979.

He was a member of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, Pittston, where he served for many years as the cantor. He studied and practiced Ruthenian Church plain chant and as well as maintained his Slovak and Carpatho-Rusyn traditions.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He deeply loved his family and was always there when they needed him. Michael and his late wife, Geraldine, who passed away Feb. 2, 2010, celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 24, 2010.

In addition to his parents and wife, Michael was also preceded in death by his twin sisters, Anna Rava and Margaret Lawrence; his brothers, Joseph Mikitish, John Mikitish and Stephen Mikitish; and his sisters, Helen Oprendick, Marion McGuire and Theresa Bruno.

Surviving are his daughters, Michele Barna, Pittston; and Geraldine M. Jones, Washington, D.C.; sons, Dr. Michael Mikitish and his wife, Rosa Maria, Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Peter Paul Mikitish and his wife, Michelle, Pittston; 10 grandchildren, Nicole and John Warnek, Robert, Nicholas and Joseph Jones, Stephanie and Joseph Mikitish and Elizabeth, Katrina and Michael Mikitish; five great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Francis Marie Levenoskie, Swoyersville; and Mary Mikitish, Tucson, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday from Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea, with a Mass of the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. in St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, 205 N. Main St., Pittston, by the Rev. Gary Mensinger.

Interment will be in the parish cemetery, Pittston.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Parastas services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Panachida services will be at 9:15 a.m. Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Byzantine Church.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit the funeral home website, www.piontekfuneralhome.com.