Julia B. Krenzel-Zavislak, a resident of Hanover Township, passed away unexpectedly on Friday afternoon, January 08, 2016, at her home.

Her beloved husband was the late Bernard Zavislak who passed away on September 15, 2009. Together, Julia and Bernard shared 10 wonderful years of marriage.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Julia was the daughter of the late John and Veronica (Koznecki) Krenzel.

Julia was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, and attended George Washington University, Washington D.C. Following retirement, she completed 28 Elderhostel Programs for continuing adult education at many institutions of higher learning in the U.S. and abroad, including programs at the London School of Economics, England; Trinity College, Wales; University of Limerick, Ireland; University of Edinburgh, Scotland; and other institutions of higher learning in Spain, Portugal, and Hawaii.

Briefly, Julia worked as a secretary to the Director of the Vising Nurses Association, Wilkes-Barre. She also was a clerical assistant for the Office of the Prothonotary, the Luzerne County Court House, and the Offices of the Community Welfare Federation, all in Wilkes-Barre.

Relocating to Washington D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, she was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Atomic Bomb Project (Manhattan Engineer District). She later served in the Department of Defense, and for the 25 years prior to her retirement, she was employed as a staff support agent in the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency of the Department of State. In this capacity, she traveled frequently to work in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Moscow (then the USSR); and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City, assisting in the negotiation of international treaties with the USSR and other nations in the fields of arms control and disarmament. In recognition of her service, she was given the Meritorious Honor Award.

Following retirement, she did volunteer work taping textbooks and magazines for the blind under the aegis of the Recording Service for the Visually Handicapped Inc., Arlington, Virginia. She also volunteered with Global Volunteers, teaching English to Polish students at Mietne and Dobczyce, Poland. Locally, she tutored Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in the English language, under the sponsorship of Catholic Social Services.

A faithful Catholic, Julia was a member of Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church, Buttonwood section of Hanover Township.

Julia served as secretary to the Women’s Guild of the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, Arlington, Virginia. Additionally, she served as secretary for the Countrywood Community Homeowners Association in Hanover Township.

Julia held membership with the National Honor Society; the National Association of Retired Federal Employees; AARP; the National Geographic Society; and the Friends of the Library. Additionally, she was a past member of the Big Band Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

In addition to her parents, John and Veronica Krenzel, and her husband, Bernard, Julia was preceded in death by her brothers, Joseph Krenzel, Kearny, New Jersey; and  Stanley Krenzel, Sublette, Illinois; her sisters, Mary Magiera, Pinehurst, North Carolina; Frances Zakrzeski, Linden, New Jersey; and Anne Klepp, Kearny, New Jersey; her step-daughter, Bernadette Senape, Freeland, Pennsylvania.

Julia is survived by her sister, Josephine Jagozinski, Kingston; several generations of nieces and nephews; her step-son, Paul Zavislak, Hanover Township.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 11:00 AM in Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church, 420 Main Road, Buttonwood section of Hanover Township.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Family and close friends are invited to attend Julia’s viewing which will be held on Tuesday morning, from 9:30 to 10:15 AM, at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

For additional information or to send Julia’s family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com .

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Julia’s memory to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301 or by visiting www.dav.org .