Rita Antionette Sigo Tarnalicki

  • Rita Antionette Sigo Tarnalicki

Rita Antionette Sigo Tarnalicki

Rita Antionette Sigo Tarnalicki passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Sunday, October 9th, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Rita was born on 8/16/40 to the late Joseph Sigo and Catherine Matowdlak Sigo in Wilkes-Barre Township. 


She graduated from Smiths Nursing School before she graduated from Wilkes-Barre Twp High School in 1958. She married her prince Frank W Tarnalicki in October 1958 She worked in several purse and shoe factories in the area as a leather skiver. She was the co-founder and a charter member of the Wilkes-Barre Twp Volunteer Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary. She also worked as an assistant to Mrs. Welabob at the W-B Twp Nursery School. She found her niche helping girls become young women by volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader for Penn’s Woods Council for over 25 years. 


When her husband Frank battled brain cancer they received a prayer shawl which brought them both great comfort. She wanted to share that comfort with others after his passing in 2007. Rita utilized her love of knitting and crocheting to become the driving force behind the Prayer Shawl Ministry, along with some close friends, at Our Lady of Hope Church. They made prayer shawls for the sick, caps and blankets for local neonatal units, and hats and scarves for those in need. Even during her last days, thinking of others, she tried to crochet for the ministry. 


Rita is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Frank, son Joseph Tarnalicki, grandson Erik Smith, sisters Florence Zaruta, Marcella Zapotek, and Elsie Krasanhill, and brother Joseph Sigo. Rita is survived by her children Antionette Smith, husband Ronald; Bernadette Gurnari, husband Anthony;


David Tarnalicki, fiance Josephine McCarthy; and Rachel Tarnalicki. Grandchildren, Pamela and Kurt Smith; Eugene, Joseph, and Deena Gurnari; Joshua, Kristofer, and Kathryn Tarnalicki. Great grandchildren 

Richard and Scarlett Smith and Lilliana Gurnari. 


Funeral services will be held Monday at 9:30am from the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at Our Lady of Hope Parish, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The Reverend John S. Terry, Pastor, will be Celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call Sunday from 3:00 to 7:00pm at the funeral home.


She was a patient of Hospice of the Sacred Heart and we would like to thank their inpatient and outpatient staff for all their kindness. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to Hospice of the Sacred Heart 53 Glenmaura National Blvd Suite#120, Moosic, PA 18507.

Joseph E. Brazinski

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • April 21, 2025
Joseph Edmund Brazinski, 73, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away April 19, 2025, at Third Avenue Health Care, Kingston. Born March 24, 1952, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Edmund and Josephine Starek Brazinski. Joseph was 1970 graduate of Marymount High School, Wilkes-Barre. Prior to retirement in 2011, he was employed by the Department of Environmental Protection on abandoned mine reclamation projects. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Theresa Cywinski in 2017. Surviving is his daughter, Miranda Brazinski; and nephews, Ryan and Scott Cywinski. Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.

Frederick Holtzman

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • April 14, 2025
Fred Holtzman, 86 of Trucksville, PA, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2025, at his home under the care of Allied Services Hospice. Born November 4, 1938, in Trucksville, he was the son of the late Jacob and Helen Czapla Holtzman. Fred was a 1956 graduate of Westmoreland High School. He was employed as a sheet metal worker with the Local #44 for over 50 years. Fred enjoyed attending car shows and working in his yard. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Frances Holtzman on March 26, 2025; brothers, Ernest Holtzman and Arthur Holtzman; and sisters, Arline Climach, Ruth Murphy, Lucy Gougas, Lotty Hitchcock, and Betty Harbaugh. Surviving is his daughters, Donna Dymond of Swoyersville, and Linda Billings and her husband, Jon of Mehoopany; son, Mark Holtzman of Trucksville; grandchildren, Sarah Billings of Lehman, PA, Jamie Billings of Mehoopany, and Stacy Dymond of South Carolina; 3 great grandchildren; his sister, Naome Brunges of Palm Bay, FL; sister-in-law, Michaelene Lavin and her husband, Francis of Wilkes-Barre; and many nieces and nephews. Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family by the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.

Rosemary D. Wisnewski

By Joseph Jendrzejewski • April 9, 2025
Rosemary D. Wisnewski, of Swoyersville, passed away Monday, April 7, 2025, at The Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas. Born December 17, 1937, in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Mary Raub Graboske. Rosemary was a 1955 graduate of Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre. She will be remembered for her dedication and service as a Counselor at the Domestic Violence Service Center for over 40 years. A devoted Catholic, Rosemary was a member of Holy Family Parish, Luzerne. She enjoyed watching football and was an avid Philadelphia Eagle's fan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick on May 3, 2010, and her sister, Arlene Lyons. Surviving sis her daughters, Laura Luise of Kingston, Patricia Sprague and her husband, George of Shavertown, and Paula Wisnewski of Swoyersville; grandchildren, George Sprague Jr., Trisha Sprague, and Vincent Luise; and great grandchildren, Vincent Luise Jr., Cole and Sage Vernon. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 14th, at 11:00am at the Jendrzejewski Funeral Home, 21 North Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre. Private interment will be in St. John's Cemetery, Dallas. Friends may call Monday morning from 10:00am until the time of services. Rosemary's family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Kilduff and the nurse and staff at The Meadows for their care and compassion.