Kara Noel Santarelli

Kara Noel Santarelli, our most beloved and beautiful daughter, granddaughter, sister, sister-in-law, auntie, Godmother, niece, cousin and friend, left this world on Oct. 6, enveloped by her family's love, warmth and protection. She has passed to the waiting and welcoming arms of those cherished family members who have gone before her.

At the tender age of 34, Kara was taken from us by a massive and untimely stroke. Kara, always passionate and compassionate, truly good and innocent, will remain forever young and beautiful.

Esteemed Godmother to her newly born niece, Olivia Rose, she will forever preside as a guardian Angel and heavenly protector.

Kara grew up in uptown Jessup as part of the "Grassy Island Avenue Gang," but most recently lived in Peckville. She was a 2002 graduate of Valley View High School, where she enjoyed being a Cougars basketball cheerleader. She also loved playing softball. She attended Penn State University and was employed by Head Start of Lackawanna County for several years as part of the pre-school staff, a position that greatly suited her caring personality. She was later employed by Bank of America, Scranton, where she made many long-lasting friendships.

Left to treasure her memory are her loving parents, Gregory and Norina Carey-Santarelli, Jessup; paternal grandparents, Alfonso and Rose Santarelli, Jessup; brothers, Gregory and wife, Lori, North Abington Twp.; and Mathew Santarelli, Peckville; niece and Godchild, Olivia Rose Santarelli, North Abington Twp.; aunts and uncles, Bernadine and Jeep Sabia, Dunmore; Janice and Randy Santarelli, Jessup; Allan and Luann Santarelli, Mount Carmel; Theresa and Pat Kane, Jessup; cousins, Maura Santarelli and Nate Santarelli, Jessup; Carolyn Sabia, Dunmore; Danny Sabia and fiancée, Cassidy, Elmhurst; Alexis Haile, husband, Jeremy and daughter, Aubrey Haile, Shamokin; Pat Kane Jr., wife, Bekah and son, Connor, Lake Ariel; and numerous other cousins; friends; and her adored little dog, Dante.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Bernard and Pierina Cruciani-Carey; zio and zia, Augusto and Cecilia Cruciani-Crinella; maternal great-grandparents, Valentino "Valente" and Gesuina Bonanni-Galli; and paternal great-grandparents, Anthony and Josephine Vispi-Santarelli; and John and Eleanor Zabinski-Anderson.

Kara will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her and loved her. Her spirit will survive as her legacy and be her family's source of strength and inspiration. Kara Santarelli has taught us that life is fragile and not to be taken for granted and to live each day with love, respect and empathy for one another.

Donations in Kara's name may be made to Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, 974 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA 18612; and St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. The family would especially appreciate donations to Jenny's Kloset, P.O. Box 52, Archbald, PA 18403, which services Valley View School District families that are in need.

The funeral will be held Wednesday from the Louis M. Margotta Funeral Home, 511 Church St., Jessup, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Jessup.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. For online condolences, go to funeral home website.