Irene Theresa (Sandroski) Puchalsky, 89, a resident of Swoyersville, earned her angel wings on Friday evening, July 28, 2017, at St. Luke’s Villa in Wilkes-Barre, where she had been a guest the past six months.

Her loving husband was the late William R. Puchalsky, Sr., a retired Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant and World War II Navy veteran, who passed away on February 23, 2003, after more than 52 years of marriage.

Born on January 14, 1928, in Wyoming, Irene was the daughter of the late Walter and Jennie (Jablonski) Sandroski.

Irene was the salutatorian of her 1945 graduating class of Wyoming High School and received a scholarship to College Misericordia.  Due to family circumstances, she was unable to attend college and instead went to work as a medical stenographer at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.  She remained employed there until her marriage on September 2, 1950, after which she became a homemaker for the rest of her life.

A faithful Catholic, Irene was a longtime member of the former St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Swoyersville, which later became Holy Name/St. Mary’s Parish Community.  Following its closure and consolidation, she became a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville.

Irene loved to collect angel figurines and had several hundred of them throughout her home. A favorite hobby was making photo albums for herself and each of her children and grandchildren, creating over 200 albums which are treasured by her family.  She also shared her talents and warmth by crocheting afghans for all of her cherished family members.  She loved visits from her family and friends, and her home was always open for anyone to stop by for a visit and a meal. She looked forward to all family gatherings, most especially the traditional Polish Wigilia Christmas Eve meal, with everyone gathered at her home for a huge holiday celebration. She took great pride in mowing her lawn and working in her yard.   For nearly twenty years, she walked several miles every day all around Swoyersville and Forty Fort, until her health no longer allowed her to do so.

Though Irene suffered many health issues in the last 14 years of her life, her strength and tenacity amazed us all.  Our “Miracle Mom” remained in her home living independently until the last few months of her life. Prior to her passing, Irene was the oldest surviving member of the Sandroski & Puchalsky families.

In addition to her parents and husband, Irene was preceded in death by her two sisters, Stef (Sandroski) Wozniek and Marion (Sandroski) Vance; her two brothers, Stanley and Henry Sandroski; and her former son-in-law, Ted Montigney.

Irene is survived by her four children: Cathy Beretski and her husband, Bob, Wyoming; Captain Patricia “Patti” Workman, Nurse Corps, US Navy (retired) and her husband, Doug, Dallas; William R. Puchalsky, Jr.,  Lake Winola; Laurie Montigney, Swoyersville; her nine grandchildren, Robert Beretski (Claudia), Wesley Village, FL; Ryan Beretski (Sherri), Lehigh Acres, FL; Alexa Beretski, Dallas; Renie Workman Meyer (Jon), Shavertown; LCDR(sel) Charles D. “Chad” Workman II, US Navy (Kate), Chesapeake, VA; Amy Workman (James Slover III), Philadelphia; William R. Puchalsky III, Syracuse, NY; Ted Montigney (Cyndi), Duryea; and Todd Montigney (Janelle), Perkasie; her twelve great-grandchildren, Nicole VanEtten Beretski Boyanowski (Joe), Duryea;  Robert Anthony Beretski; Olivia, Celia, and Jake Meyer; Cale Workman; William R. Puchalsky IV; Chase and Kylie Montigney; Cole, Drew, and Shane Montigney; her two great-great grandsons, Levi and Colt Boyanowski; and her three step-grandchildren, Andrew Stocker; Kara and Justin Stavish.

Also surviving are her former daughters-in-law, Jean Piccillo, Rosanna Buzzelli, and Linda McDermott; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dolores Sandroski, Exeter; Glendon Vance, Salisbury, MD; Bob Kashmer, Penn Yan, NY; Barbara (Puchalsky) Ripa, Swoyersville; Thelma (Puchalsky) Evanko, Morganton, NC; Marie Puchalsky, Mechanicsburg; Lawrence Puchalsky (Barbara), Kingston; Lorraine (Puchalsky) Bebey, Levittown; and her many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Dr. James Galasso and his office staff (especially Linda and Lois) for their many years of compassionate care; Deacon Joe DeVizia for his weekly visits to bring the Eucharist to Irene; Eleanor Robshaw, Irene’s high school classmate, for her weekly visits to cheer Irene and bring news of other classmates; and the entire staff at St. Luke’s Villa for the loving, supportive care of Irene the past six months.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Friday, August 04, 2017, at 9:15 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, with the Rev. Joseph J. Pisaneschi, her pastor, officiating. 

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Brook Street, Swoyersville.

Friends and family are invited to call on Thursday, August 03, 2017, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, at the funeral home.

For additional information or to send the Puchalsky family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Irene’s memory to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville, PA 18704; or to Saint Luke’s Villa, 80 East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.