Dianna L. Gardjulis

LARKSVILLE — Dianna L. Gardjulis, 67, of West Broadway Street, Larksville, and former resident of Wanamie, went home to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ and her parents on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. She fought Myasthenia Gravis, diagnosed in 2006, and Tymoma cancer, which was diagnosed in 2010, for many years.

Born Sept. 7, 1949, in Nanticoke, she was the devoted daughter of the late Henry Sedorchuk and Ruth (Kaskey) Sedorchuk, whom she took care of and resided with her.

Dianna was a loving and devoted mother to her daughters, Joanna Kempa, of Nanticoke, Cindy Higgins, of Larksville, with whom she resided, and Jamie May, who died on Nov. 6, 2016; sons-in-law, David Kempa, Nathan (Bud) Higgins and Carl May; she was Grammy Dee to her grandchildren, who were her pride and joy, and she loved to spend time with, Andrew Lescoe Jr. and Amanda Lescoe, Nikki, Dianna and Nathan Higgins Jr. and Zechariah May; and a great-grandson, Andrew Lescoe III.

She graduated from Newport Township High School in 1967 and from Luzerne County Community College as outstanding adult learner in 1988, where she earned degrees in secretarial science and business management and with certificates in electronics and word processing.

She was a member of Nebo Baptist Church, Nanticoke, where she had served as Sunday school superintendent, Deaconess, Sunday school teacher and junior youth group leader (a group that she organized because she knew our future depends on our children), church financial secretary, pastor's secretary and a member of the Puppets of Praise ministry. She also was the chairperson of the church's 125th anniversary in 1995 and served as secretary of the Wyoming Valley Christian Bowling League for 12 years.

In her earlier years, Dianna was Brownie Girl Scout leader and assistant Junior Girl Scout leader for the troops that met at the Alden Hose Company and later at Alden United Methodist Church. She was an advisor for the Nanticoke Junior Trojans Cheerleaders and served as treasurer for the Greater Nanticoke Chorus Parents Organization.

After graduating from LCCC, Dianna had been employed for 11 years as an administrative support specialist at the Educational Opportunity Centers of Penna., Wilkes-Barre, and later by Sallie Mae Servicing Corp. in Hanover Industrial Park as a claims analyst, retiring due to her illness. While at Sallie Mae, she volunteered as a rec club representative, a Junior Achievement leader and a participant in the RIFF Program and Community Reading Day Program. She also worked part-time at Colonial Lanes in Nanticoke before it closed.

She is also survived by her estranged sister, Judith Rinker, of Wilkes-Barre; and her estranged brother, Henry Sedorchuk Jr., of Wanamie; as well as several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday from Davis-Dinelli Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad St., Nanticoke, with Pastor Timothy G. Hall, officiating. Interment will follow in Hanover Green Cemetery. Viewing and visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.