Antoinette C. Hemak

Antoinette C. Hemak, of Peckville, died Thursday in Mercy Hospice after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Her husband of 42 years is Charles Hemak.

Born in Forest City, daughter of the late Anthony and Margaret Arvay Kersavage, she had resided in Peckville for the past 40 years. She was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville.

Antoinette was a splendid, inspirational woman who centered her life around the sacredness of her incredible marriage, the nurturing of her cherished children, the adoration of her beloved grandchildren and the treasury of her valued friends and extended family. She was a tremendous wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandma, sister and friend. She embraced the holidays with excitement about celebrating with family and good friends. She was an amazing cook and polka-danced with a ton of style. She lit up a room with her presence, her beauty, her fashion and her smile. She had amazing integrity and a true passion and gratitude for life.

She battled courageously with breast cancer and its complications for eight years with loving, steadfast support and care from her husband, and neither with any complaining. She was grateful for every day.

Special thanks for her tremendous medical care from numerous physicians and especially from her daughter-in-law, Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, and Dr. Lisa Thomas as well as their staff, particularly Linda Ferrari. She died peacefully in the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit, where she received the most compassionate and respectful care, as did her family.

Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey, Jessup; and Mark and wife, Linda, Jermyn; a brother, Robert Kersavage and wife, Dolores, Dunmore; five sisters, Shirley Miezejewski and husband, Hank, Dickson City; Regina Weltz and husband, Joseph, Mount Cobb; Pat Moran and husband, Frank, Scranton; twin sisters, Marlene McHale; and Arlene Tassey and husband, Bill, all of Scranton; three grandchildren, Mason, Maya and Antoinette, named after her grandmother; a brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Patty Hemak, Jermyn; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Thomas McHale; and a nephew, Michael Hemak Jr.

The funeral will be Monday from the James M. Margotta Funeral Home, 1019 Main St., Peckville, with Mass at 9:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.

Friends may call Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. Donations in her honor can be made to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Northeastern Pennsylvania Affiliate, 300 Mulberry St., Suite 305, 18501; or the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit, 746 Jefferson Ave.