Thomas F. Dorko

  • Thomas F. Dorko

Thomas F. Dorko

Thomas F. Dorko, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at his home. He had just celebrated his 87th birthday with relatives. Born December 1, 1936, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Joseph and Helen Dombroski Dorko.


Thomas attended Marymount grade School and was a 1954 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, Wilkes-Barre. He worked several jobs before being inducted into the U.S. Army in 1960. He was stationed at the 39th parralel, the Demilitarized Zone in Korea for 2 years.


Upon returning to the United States, he was discharged from the military in California and settled in Los Angeles where he joined several of his high school friends who had moved there from Wilkes-Barre. He achieved a position at Hughes Aircraft as a machinist and working up to the position Shop Steward.


All of his life, Tom was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and shooting, really enjoying competition on small caliber targets. Riding motorcycles through the California deserts shooting at jackrabbits was also a favorite pastime. 


After retirement, he and his wife settled in Henderson, NV, and after some time he moved back to Wilkes-Barre in 1999. Tom lived with and attended to his elderly mother, Helen, until she passed away at 104 years old.


He also enjoyed socializing with his siblings, especially Helene and Bob Roccograndi i Kingston. Tom will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Dorko.


He is survived by a step daughter and step grandchildren in California; and siblings, Carl of Harrisburg, PA, William of Montgomery Village, MD, Helene Roccograndi of Kingston, and Kathlene of Harveys Lake, PA; brother and sisters-in-laws; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 11:00am at our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The Reverend John S. Terry, Pastor, will be Celebrant. Interment with Military Honors will follow in St. Mary's Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call Monday morning at the church from 10:00am until time of Mass.

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.