K. Monica Kruger

The family of Dr. K. Monica (McIlvaine) Kruger, 52, of Swiftwater, announces her passing following a yearlong illness and absence from her post as professor and chairperson of the Teacher Education Division of College Misericordia in Dallas. She died on Saturday, at her home surrounded by family.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Kruger is the oldest daughter of George S. and Kathryn (Arnold) McIlvaine of Jamison.

A longtime educator in northeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Kruger received her bachelor of science degree in education from East Stroudsburg University (1974), a master of education degree from Lehigh University, and her Ph.D. in school curriculum and supervision from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. She held certificates of Education and Curriculum Supervisor, Reading Specialist, and a Pennsylvania Elementary Teaching Certificate.

Dr. Kruger was a classroom teacher for special needs students in Bucks County and an education consultant in Colonial Northampton Intermediate Unit 20 during the 1970s and 1980s, and a remedial reading disabilities specialist and teacher in-service trainer in Monroe and Luzerne counties for two decades. She received her latest professional appointment as professor of education at College Misericordia in 1989.

Most recently, Dr. Kruger was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition for her teacher in-service training at the Lourdesmont School for Young Women in the greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area. In 2002, Dr. Kruger was nominated for and appointed to Women's Who's Who in American Education. She also served as a sponsor/mentor for the Single Women with Children program, a College Misericordia sponsored community initiative in the Dallas area.

With other colleagues and in cooperation with the college, Dr. Kruger helped initiate and effect a program called Circle of Friends in the Dallas and Wilkes-Barre area for the social and academic benefit/integration of challenged learners. She authored and directed the summer Reading Camp, a cohort program between College Misericordia and the Wyoming Valley West School District.

In addition to her husband, Eric, she is survived by two sons, Stephen Kruger of Portland, Maine, and Michael Kruger of Southampton, N.Y.; two daughters, Kristin Kruger of Henryville and Julie Kruger of Long Beach, Calif.; three brothers, John McIlvaine and his wife Nancy of Ottsville, Robert McIlvaine and his wife Merope of Jamison, and Steven McIlvaine and his wife Maureen of Jamison; four sisters, Carol Wycoff and her husband James of Shawnee, Barbara Comly and her husband Keith of Wycombe, Patricia McIlvaine of Aldie, and Virginia, Kathryn Van Dood and her husband Kenneth of Southampton, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

Colleagues, friends and relatives are invited to a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Bolock Funeral Home, corner of routes 940 and 390 in Paradise Valley. A Mass of Roman Catholic Rite will be celebrated at the College Misericordia Chapel in Dallas. Times and date will be announced after the start of the fall 2005 semester.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VNA Hospice of Monroe County, 502 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 or to Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at Pocono Medical Center, 231 E. Brown St. East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.bolockfuneralhome.com

Bolock Funeral Home