Jeanette Wagner Obituary
Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late David Soma and Tyro Bedway Makary. She was a graduate of West Scranton High school and received her BA in music and MS in Education from Marywood College. Prior to retirement she taught music 30 years for the Scranton School District and English at the University of Scranton. She was also a bass player and librarian for the NEPA Philharmonic for decades.
Jeanette was very active with St. Ann Maronite Church in Scranton serving as an organist. She was also active with WVIA-TV fundraising, ALSAC, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Century Club and the Scranton Historical Society. She will sadly be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Surviving is her son G. David Wagner and wife Dr. Patricia A. Sperling, Spring Brook Township. Christopher Wagner, Scranton, daughter, Mari Thomas and husband Gen. Robert Thomas USAF, San Antonio, Texas. As well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her 4 brothers Albert, William, Edward, and Joseph and 2 sisters Amelia Karam and Catherine Soma and her former husband George Wagner.
A viewing will be held Friday from 5-7pm at Savino Traditional Funerals and Cremation Care, 157 S. Main Ave., Scranton, Carl J. Savino, Jr., supervisor.
The funeral mass will be Saturday 10:00am at St. Ann Maronite Church, 1320 Price St. Scranton followed by internment at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Scranton.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Ann Maronite Church, 1320 Price St. Scranton, PA 18504 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105.
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3 Entries
Dr. John T. Lucas
February 9, 2026
Alas, I learned only today of Jeanette's passing. I offer my profound condolences to her family and friends.
Decades ago we were very good friends, dated for a while, and had much fun together. I remember to this day how fine a pianist she was.
When I moved away to another country to take employment we lost touch with each other, but touched base about fifteen years ago, much to our mutual surprise. We said hello again about four years ago by telephone. By then she had long been unmarried and my spouse had passed away.
i shall have a Mass said for the repose of her soul at my parish church, and one celebrated by a close friend who is pastor at another church. In my 87th year I am still a soloist and will sing both those Masses.
May Jeanette rest in peace always.
Dr. John T. Lucas
Victoria, BC, Canada
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Joan Minelli Naegele
November 24, 2024
Jeanette was my music teacher at South Scranton Junior High School. I then began taking piano lessons on the Baby Grand piano in her family home. I looked up to her. I will always remember her zipping around in her blue DeSoto. When her nephew Philip asked me to Central's prom, I was elated. I enjoyed suppers with Jeanette and her mom. The Lebanese bread we ate. She and George attended my wedding. They flew around in his Karmann Ghia. I still have the beautiful bud vase Jeanette gave me for a wedding present. I loved going to her house on Lafayette Street. Such wonderful memories.
Monsignor Francis J. Marini
November 23, 2024
Jeanette was the first parishioner I met when I became pastor of Saint Ann Maronite Church in 2003 and she was the organist and choir director. I offer my sympathy and prayers for David and Patty, Mari and Bob, Chris and the entire Soma and Wagner family. May she rest in peace.
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157 South Main Ave, Scranton, PA 18504
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