Lenore M. Lorenc

Lenore Marie (McKenna) Lorenc, 97, a lifelong resident of Port Carbon, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at her home.

She was the widow of Marcel J. Lorenc, who died in 1989.

Born Aug. 9, 1926, in Pottsville, she was the third born of seven children of the late John and Myrtle (Reidler) McKenna.

Lenore was fortunate to have lived a long and happy life. She had wonderful childhood memories of home and growing up in Port Carbon in a large extended family.

It was there that she acquired a deep love of music and learned to play the piano at a young age from lessons given by her Aunt Rosalie. In her youth, she also began singing and later studied voice at the Braun School of Music. Lenore was a devout Catholic who nurtured a beautiful soprano voice and shared her gift at church. From age sixteen through well into her eighties, Lenore was a member of the St. Stephen's Church Choir. For many years during that time, she sang as soloist at countless weddings and funerals, as well as at Masses and other special occasions. Hearing her sing the "Ave Maria" or "O Holy Night" at Mass on Christmas Eve was always especially memorable.

She graduated salutatorian of St. Stephen High School, Class of 1943, and then worked for ten years doing secretarial work, most notably as secretary for the chief engineer at the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Co. The company had a travelling chorus made up of employees, which she joined and became a soloist.

Music continued to be a very important part of her life for her entire life. In addition to her church and employer choirs, she was a member and soloist with the former Pottsville Music Club, the former Port Carbon Women's Club Chorus and the Philadelphia Reading Chorus. She also sang in the soprano section of the Schuylkill County Choral Society for many years.

On Nov. 26, 1953, Lenore married "Cel" and shared life with him for nearly 36 years until he passed away Nov. 25, 1989. While married, she lived a fulfilled life as homemaker, devoted wife and loving mother to their seven children. She brought music into the home, regularly singing and playing the piano. During those years, she was a member of and served as secretary of the St. Stephen Parents' Club.

Later in life, she became an avid walker, walking several miles several times a week for many years. Above all, what Lenore cherished most in life was simply spending time with members of her large but close-knit extended family, young and old. Frequent trips and visits with her siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for vacations, reunions, holidays and other celebrations brought immense joy to her life.

In addition to her husband and parents, Lenore was preceded in death by son, Gregory; grandson, P. Louis Capitano; son-in-law, Gary Capitano; sisters, Elizabeth Schuck, Rosemary Combs and Dolores "Dodo" McKenna; and brother, John McKenna.

Loved ones surviving her include children, Mark Lorenc (Kathleen), Christine McLaughlin (Jim), Angela Capitano, Elizabeth Belko (Len), Stephen Lorenc and Sylvia Tridico (Bob); brother, Joseph (Dolores) McKenna; and sister, Georgene Selesky. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, Brian Lorenc, Dr. Heather Finn, James McLaughlin III, Shannon Carrithers, Tara Wagner, Dana and Peter Capitano, Timothy, Marissa and Jenna Belko and Zachary and Alexander Tridico; six great-grandchildren, Olivia, Brennan, Cora, Anya, Cassie and Cormac; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lenore's children will be forever grateful to the many wonderful caregivers who assisted in caring for her over the years. That devoted support, along with the warm and tender care she received, helped keep Mom smiling throughout her final journey. The family is especially appreciative of Lenore's caregiver friends, Marie and Sue, as well as the compassionate staff of Hospice of Central Pennsylvania who made it possible to keep Mom comfortable at home.

Family and friends may call from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home, Port Carbon. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in New Philadelphia. Interment will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Port Carbon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in memory of Lenore to the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.