Lea Kish

WILKES-BARRE — Lea Kish, 85, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully, while surrounded by her family, on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Allied Services Hospice Center, Wilkes-Barre. The family wishes to thank the hospice team for the respectful and compassionate care they provided.

Lea was born in Wilkes-Barre Township, the second daughter of the late Emilio and Sophie Krulikowski Cibello. Lea was the salutatorian and treasurer of the 1955 graduating class of Wilkes-Barre Township High School. Prior to her retirement, she had been employed in the accounting department at Sears department store.

Lea was a member of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, and its Ladies Guild, in Wilkes-Barre Township. She was devoted to her faith and supported many charities to help those in need.

Of her many passions, Lea most enjoyed supporting and cheering on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, over the decades in football, baseball, track and field, soccer, field hockey, school concerts and events, and band performances. She enjoyed reading mystery, detective, and romance fiction, tending to her vibrant flower gardens, that bloomed from Spring into the late Fall, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles, frequenting casinos in many states, listening to operatic tenors, especially Pavarotti, and hosting holiday parties where her homemade cooking delighted all. Lea's greatest joy in life was being a loving and devoted wife, and a proud mother of her six children, her six grandchildren, and her four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, and love of her life of 56 years, Daniel Kish, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2014; by her sisters: Rose Marie Wassel and Mary Cibello; her sisters-in-law: Margaret, Helen, and Elizabeth, Kish; and brothers-in-law: Michael, John, and Joseph Kish.

Lea is survived by her children: Daniel Kish and his wife, Patti, Louisville, Ky.; Mary Majikes, Wilkes-Barre; Thomas Kish and his wife, Renee, Hanover Township; Lea Ann Kish, Moosic; Paul Kish and his wife, Sandra, Hanover Township; and Stephen Kish, Wilkes-Barre. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Nicole Zdancewicz and her husband, Jeffrey; Jamie Sadock and her husband, Robert; Daniel Kish; Alexandra Kish; Justin Finn; and Brianne Majikes Lavan and her husband, James; great-grandchildren: Avery, Lucas, Laila and Adley Zdancewicz; brothers: Anthony (Sarge) Cibello, Newport, N.C.; and Joseph Cibello and his wife, Kathy, Hanover, Md.; sisters-in-law: Mary and Anna; brother-in-law, Edward; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Divine liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 526 Church St., Wilkes-Barre Township. The Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanets will officiate. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lea's memory to St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 526 Church St., Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702.

Condolences may be sent by visiting Lea's obituary at www.natandgawlas.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre.