Obituary of Mary Basalyga Kneiss
Mary Basalyga Kneiss, 90, formerly of Clarks Summit, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday evening at Pinnacle Health, West Shore Hospital, Mechanicsburg. Her beloved husband, Joseph, died Dec. 24, 2006.
Born in Wood, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Stephania Rydzanycz Basalyga. Mary was a graduate of Scranton Technical High School. For numerous years, she worked for physicians as a medical billing specialist. She was a parishioner of St. Nicholas’ Orthodox Church, Scranton, and was past president of the altar society for many years. Mary had a deep love for her church and was very active in the pirohi projects. Her family was the center of her life, and she will be dearly missed.
Surviving are a three sons, Joseph A., Pleasanton, Calif.; Gary S. and wife, Carol, Boiling Springs; and Gregory J. and wife, Sharon, Levittown; a daughter, Carol Fritz and husband, Michael, Ledyard, Conn.; seven grandchildren, Sarah Fritz, Lauren Ruehle and husband, Brian; Rachel Richie and husband, Brad; Elizabeth, Gregory, Emily and David Kneiss; a great-grandson, Colton Ruehle; five sisters, Lovie Swingle, Delores Naglak and Sonja Fueshko and husband, Stephen, all of Clarks Summit; Daria Schuster, Scranton; and Olga Dzbinski, Baltimore, Md.; a brother, Frank “Ted” Basalyga, Clarks Summit; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brothers, John, Peter, Russell and Joseph; and a sister, Ann Pivovarnik.
Family and friends are invited to attend Mary’s funeral, which will begin on Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. from the Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor, followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. in St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Jefferson and Vine Streets, Scranton, by the Rev. Daniel Vaskalis. Interment will follow in Abington Hills Cemetery, South Abington Twp. Friends may call Monday, 5 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Services will be at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 505 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510, or to the Country Meadows activities fund, 4905 East Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.
