Joseph Szewczyk

Mr. Joseph Szewczyk, of Hughestown, passed away on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Twp.

Born on Dec. 3, 1946, in Pittston, he was the only son of the late Joseph L. and Mary Catherine Zambetti Szewczyk.

He was a graduate of Holy Rosary Elementary School, Duryea, and a 1965 graduate of St. John's High School, Pittston.

Prior to college, Joseph served in Vietnam and was assigned aboard the U.S.S. Pollux and the U.S.S. Firedrake as Quartermaster Third Class Petty Officer. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 1972.

He received a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Bloomsburg State College in 1974. While at Bloomsburg, his fraternity affiliations include Kappa Delta PI and PHI Alpha Theta. He further pursued a master's degree in social studies and secondary education from Scranton University. In 1980, he was granted a certificate in elementary education from Marywood College. In 1994, he was awarded a Master of Science degree in theology from Marywood College.

He was an educator in the following schools: Pittston Area, Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18, Wyoming Area, Pennsbury School District, Bishop Hafey High School, Hazleton, Bishop O'Reilly High School, Kingston and Holy Redeemer High School, Wilkes-Barre.

Joseph also worked as a salesclerk for the Jewelcor Store, Edwardsville.

Joseph was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Duryea active in the C.C.D. program and its adult choir.

He is survived by his cousins.

Funeral and interment services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Chittenden Street, Duryea, with the Rev. Michael Bryant officiating. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery the morning of the funeral. There will be no viewing. A memorial Mass will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 127 Stephenson St., Duryea, with the Rev. Michael Bryant officiating. Arrangements are by the Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea.

To leave an online condolence for Joseph's family, visit the funeral home website, www.piontekfueralhome.com.