Josephine A. (Petscavage) Klemek

          Mrs. Josephine A. (Petscavage) Klemek, 103, a resident of the North End section of Wilkes-Barre, passed peacefully into Eternal Life Saturday afternoon in Saint Luke's Villa, Wilkes-Barre, where she had resided for the past two years.
     Born in Larksville on January 24, 1916, she was one of eight children to the late Jacob and Agnes Piatkiewicz.
     She was a member of the 1932 graduating class of the former Larksville High School.  Rare for women of her generation, Mrs. Klemek furthered her education by attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, as a member of the second graduating class from the former College Misericordia, Dallas in 1936.
     Prior to graduation, Mrs. Klemek was the recipient of the esteemed Montani Medal for distinction in liturgical music at while at Misericordia.
     In her youth, she was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance, served as a teacher at the former Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parochial School in North End and also worked as a substitute teacher for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.
     Later in life, she assisted her late husband, Mr. Frank Klemek and eventually her son Frank in the daily operations of the family business, The North End Tavern in North Wilkes-Barre for many years.
     She was a life member of the Parish of Saint Andre Bessette, North Wilkes-Barre where she held the distinction of being one the eldest parishioners.
     She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mr. Frank Klemek on December 26, 1979.  At the time of his passing, the couple shared 40 years of married life together.  Also preceding her were a brother Michael Petscavage; Sisters Mary Clune, Clara Hahn, Estelle Gordon, Julia Lewis, Katherine Krescanko and Sophia Barsh.
     Left to mourn her passing and cherish her memory are her children,  Janine K. Miknevich and her husband John,  Mauria A. DeVizia and her husband Deacon Joseph, all of Larksville and son Francis Klemek, with whom she resided; Grandchildren, Tania Marie DeVizia Berdosh and her husband Joseph, Joseph DeVizia and Christa DeVizia Mecadon and her husband Girard; Great-grandchild, Alfred Joseph Mecadon; Several nieces, nephews, former patrons and dear friends.
     Funeral services for Mrs. Klemek will be conducted on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from the North Wilkes-Barre location of the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc., 625 North Main Street followed by the celebration of her funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish of Saint Andre Bessette, 668 North Main Street.  The Reverend Kenneth M. Seegar, pastor will serve as celebrant.  Josephine's son-in-law, Deacon Joseph DeVizia will proclaim the Gospel and serve as homilist.
     Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Cemetery, Lake Street, Dallas.
     Relatives and friends may join the Klemek family for visitation and shared remembrances Tuesday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
    

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