Barbara Jean Ceklosky

     Miss Barbara Jean Ceklosky, 77, a lifetime resident of the North End neighborhood of Wilkes-Barre, passed peacefully into Eternal Life Thursday evening while in the care of the Gardens at East Mountain following a prolonged illness.

     Born March 29, 1943 in Wilkes-Barre, she was one of nine children to the late Michael and Justine (Iskra) Ceklosky.  Educated in the city schools, Miss Ceklosky was a graduate of the former Sacred Heart Slovak Parochial School and the James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre.

      She was a member of the Parish of Saint Andre Bessette, North Wilkes-Barre; having been a lifetime member of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church prior to its closure and subsequent merger.  In her youth, Barbara was active in various parish activities at Sacred Heart.

     Following her formal education, Miss Ceklosky took employment with the former House of Savoy Company of Wilkes-Barre for many years, retiring as a floor supervisor.  Following retirement, she did not sit idle.  Later in life, she was employed in the dietary departments of both the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the Riverstreet Manor, each for several years.

     Proud of her Slovak heritage, she held membership in the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, where she served as treasurer of Junior Branch #362; the Sacred Heart Slovak Heritage Society, where she sang in the combined choir and was instrumental in financing the group’s recording project; a member of the Slovak Catholic Sokols and the Men’s Slovak Catholic Union, the Jednota.

     In her spare time, Miss Ceklosky loved to cook and bake, especially nut rolls and traditional Slovak ethnic dishes for family, especially around Christmas and Easter.

     Barbara is remembered as being a loving and caring woman who was devoted to her family and the accomplishments of her many nieces and nephews.  Her physical presence and gentle ways will be greatly missed by all those she knew and touched in her lifetime.

   Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters; Bernadine Stefanovich and Florence Sierko; by  brothers, Leonard F. Ceklosky and Michael Ceklosky; an infant niece, Carol Ann Ceklosky and her long-time companion, Cyril "Cy" Krempasky.

     Left to cherish the wonderful memories they hold of Barbara are her brothers; Francis and his wife Theresa Ceklosky of Hudson; Joseph F. and his wife Loretta Ceklosky of Dallas; John Ceklosky, and sister; Mary Ann Krajnik, both of King of Prussia; Numerous nieces, nephews, fellow parishioners and dear friends.

     Funeral services for Miss Ceklosky will be conducted on Monday with her Funeral Mass t 11:00 a.m. in the Parish of Saint Andre Bessette, 668 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre.  The Reverend Kenneth M. Seegar, pastor, will serve as celebrant and homilist.  Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in the family lot of Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Cemetery of Saint Andre Bessette Parish, Dorchester Drive, Dallas.

     Relatives and friends may join the Ceklosky family for visitation and shared remembrances directly at church Monday morning from 10:30 a.m. until the time of her funeral Mass.

     In lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions in Barbara's memory would be sincerely appreciated by her family to the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius motherhouse; Villa Sacred Heart, 1002 Railroad Street, Danville, PA 17821.

     The North Wilkes-Barre location of the John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc. is honored to care for our friend and neighbor, Miss Ceklosky and her family at this time.  

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