Teophilia Yakalavich "Tillie" Kader

T eophilia “Tillie” Yakalavich Kader, 92, of Swoyersville, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning at home.
She was born in Pittston, Oct. 9, 1913, a daughter of the late Paul and Teophilia (Pakutka) Yakalavich. Tillie began working at an early age in the garment industry, where she rose from seamstress to management and to the eventual ownership of three dress factories. She was employed for many years at Nelson Manufacturing and ultimately became the owner and operator of Maltby Sportswear, Swoyersville; Cynthia Sue, Forty Fort; and Junction Sportswear, Pittston. She was a kind and generous employer, who was loved and respected by those in her industry.
Tillie’s family was paramount in her life and she doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an avid seamstress and quilter and loved to travel up until the last month of her life when she suffered a stroke. She was involved in many community organizations like the Lithuanian Women’s Club and the Swoyersville Senior Citizens. A woman of deep faith, Tillie was a member of Holy Name/St. Mary’s Parish Community, Swoyersville, and its Confraternity of Christian Mothers.
Tillie’s life was as rich and vital as it was long and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Alex Kader, who died in 1985; sisters Mary Budrewicz, Nellie Yakalavich, Ann Faleski; brothers Joseph, William, Peter, Paul and Tony Yakalavich.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann Volack, Swoyersville, with whom she resided; sister Alberta Kridlo, Pittston; brother Edward Yakalavich, Hampton, Va.; granddaughters Susan Kolesar, Swoyersville; Donna and husband Bob Ricketts, State College; Denise and husband Ron Dower, Canaan, Conn.; Cynthia Volack, New York, N.Y.; grandson Edward Volack, Swoyersville; great-grandchildren Kristin Kolesar, Chicago, Ill.; Robyn Ricketts, Philadelphia; Joseph Kolesar, Swoyersville; Robert Ricketts, State College; many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Saturday from the Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Name/St. Mary’s Church, 283 Shoemaker St., Swoyersville, with the Rev. Louis Grippe officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery, Swoyersville.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
The Confraternity of Christian Mothers of Holy Name/St. Mary’s Church will recite the rosary at 8 p.m. Friday.