Mary Lipko

Mary Lipko, R.N., 85, a resident of Carbondale, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13, after a brief illness. The love of her life, Tom Lipko, passed away Nov. 21, 2008; the couple were happily married for 50 years.

Born in Carbondale, daughter of the late Bernard and Marie Bagley Wivell, she was a devoted Catholic and member of St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. She was a graduate of St. Rose High School, class of 1954, and a 1957 graduate of St. Joseph's School of Nursing, both of Carbondale. Mary loved her work as a registered nurse, working for the former St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale, for 23 years. She was an exceptional nurse, working in the emergency room and as a nursing supervisor on the floors, helping both patients and doctors. Mary was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Div. #3, Carbondale, and the Red Hat Society.

She enjoyed going to the cottage at Spruce Lake ever summer for more than 50 years with Tom and all the kids. She also enjoyed going to the casino, both locally and in Atlantic City. Mary loved to travel, visiting countless places: Hawaii, Florida, Alaska, Ireland, the Mediterranean, many cruises and on a cross-country trip twice. She always marveled at what a beautiful country we have. One of her favorite places to visit was Disney World; she was a kid at heart. Mary was always on the go, either to one of her group meetings, to bingo, to the YMCA, or out to dinner or a movie. She loved her family and was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; she was so very proud of all of their accomplishments.

The family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude to the staff at the Regional Hospital of Scranton for the exceptional and compassionate care given to Mary; they treated her as if she was their own mother.

Surviving are five children, Teri Doyle and husband, Mike, Carbondale; Thomas Lipko and wife, Theresa, Jacksonville, Fla.; Joseph Lipko and wife, Tami, Carbondale; James Lipko and wife, Michelle, Browndale; Noreen Morgan and husband, Robert, Carbondale; 12 grandchildren, Theresa Anne Lillis, Paul, Amanda, Joe (Yliana), Tommy (Anne), Lindsay (Brooke), Jimmy, Ali, Natalie, Jay, Melissa and Bobby Morgan; five great-grandchildren, Jordan, Oreana, Magdalyn, Molly and Reid; a niece, Karen Ruddy and husband, Mark; and a brother-in-law, Joseph Lipko, Middletown, N.Y.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home Inc., 55 Lincoln Ave., Carbondale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. Interment, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Forest City. Friends may call Tuesday, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to either St. Rose of Lima Church, 6. N. Church St., Carbondale, PA 18407; or the Greater Carbondale YMCA, 82 N. Main St., Carbondale, PA 18407.

For directions or to send online condolences, visit the funeral home website.