Elaine M. Mikolosko

Elaine M. Mikolosko, 92, a resident of Swoyersville, passed into eternal life on Monday evening, December 11, 2023, at Third Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center, Kingston, where she was recently a guest.

Her beloved husband was the late Joseph Mikolosko, who passed away on January 28, 2003. Together, Joseph and Elaine shared 49 beautiful years of marriage.

Born on September 24, 1931, in Pittston, Elaine was one of three children born to the late Peter E. Shukstis and Nellie Laibinis Shukstis.

Raised in Pittston, Elaine was a 1949 graduate of the former Saint John the Evangelist High School. She received her associates degree in social work from Luzerne County Community College in 1976; her bachelor’s degree in social work from College Misericordia, Dallas, now Misericordia University, in 1979; and her master’s degree in social work from Marywood College, Scranton, now Marywood University, in 1980. Elaine did her post graduate studies at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, and, in 1982, she began attending the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, for her doctorate in social work. Elaine was one dissertation shy of receiving her doctorate when she left the doctorate program to care for her ill husband for the next ten years.

Throughout her years, Elaine worked as a social service consultant for various skilled nursing facilities; as a prevention specialist with the AWARENESS Program through Luzerne County Drug and Alcohol Program, primarily at the former Bishop Hoban High School, Wilkes-Barre; as an aftercare service director with the MH/MR Center, Nanticoke; as a developmental specialist and social worker with the HUG-US Program through the Children’s Service Center, Wilkes-Barre; as a social worker in the case management department for Wyoming Valley Health Care System at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; as a social worker for Advance Psychological Associates, Wilkes-Barre; and as a PRN social worker for Community Medical Center, Scranton.

Elaine was a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Holy Trinity Church, Swoyersville, where she was a member of the parish choir and Confraternity of Christian Mothers. Elaine was also actively involved with the preparing and execution of the parish’s annual bazaar.

Devoted to her faith, Elaine prayed the Rosary daily and watched the Mass on EWTN many times a day. She always looked forward to her nightly phone calls with her many lady friends who loved her and will miss her dearly.

In addition to her parents, Peter and Nellie Skukstis, and her husband, Joseph, Elaine was preceded in death by her son, Kevin Mikolosko, who passed away on March 26, 2015; her sisters, Rosemary Kolessar and Christal Jacobs; her brother, Peter Shukstis; her brother-in-law, Harry Jacobs; her dear sister-in-law, Mary Maziarz, who Elaine was very close with; and her many dogs who she loved and cared for over the years.

Elaine will be sadly missed by her daughter, Linda Pugh and her husband, James; her daughter-in-law, Deborah Mikolosko; her six grandchildren, Kelli Mikolosko; Kristin (Kevin) Sherlinski; Jaime Pugh (Jim Marcellino); Caitlin Pugh (Wes Toth); Emily (T.J.) Nolan; and Alexandra Pugh; her four great-grandchildren, John Sherlinski, Andrew Sherlinski, Ivy Nolan, and James Marcellino; her sister-in-law, Roseann Shukstis; her brother-in-law, Thomas Kolessar; as well as her numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Memorial Mass will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

To share a message of condolence with Elaine’s family, you may visit the funeral home’s website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

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