Karen Jean Licata, 71, a resident of Mountaintop, passed into eternal life unexpectedly, with her husband at her side, on Tuesday afternoon, April 08, 2025, in the comfort of her home.

Her loving husband is Frank M. Licata with whom Karen would have celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary on August 16^th.

Born on May 01, 1953, in Kingston, Karen was the daughter of the late William Rinko and Irene Saxon Rinko.

Raised in Swoyersville, Karen was a graduate of the former Central Catholic High School, Class of 1971 and went on to further her education at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, where, in 1974, she acquired her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.

With a nursing career spanning nearly 50 years, Karen retired in 2023 from Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township, where she was an operating room nurse on the open-heart team. In earlier years, she worked as an operating room nurse at both the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the former Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre; as a nurse with a neurosurgical team; and as an instructor for surgical technicians at Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke.

A woman of strong faith, Karen was an active member of Saint Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Dorrance, where she often volunteered at various church events. She also attended masses regularly at Saint Jude’s Church, Mountaintop, and was a longtime member of the Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union.

Karens’ daughters were the center of her life, and they appreciated her constant support. As they were growing up, no matter if it was a field hockey or softball game, a track meet, or cheerleading and dance performances, Karen was always there to cheer her girls on. As her grandsons came along, she embraced the role of “Grammie” head on, never missing an opportunity to spend time with them, even finding great joy in babysitting.

Karen especially enjoyed yearly vacations with her family to the Jersey Shore; rooting on her favorite teams, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the New York Yankees; trying her luck at bingo and the occasional trip to the casino; and caring for the family pets they had over the years. In her younger days, in addition to skiing, she enjoyed making ceramics and gifting many of her creations to her family and friends.

Karen will be lovingly remembered for her most cherished roles in life – wife, mother and Grammie. Although her beautiful presence will be missed beyond measure, her spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of her loved ones.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Frank, and their three daughters, Dr. Kerri Mashburn and her husband, Jason, Scottsdale, Arizona; Amy Licata, Harrisburg; and Kylie Smeltz and her husband, Matt, Herndon; three grandsons, Ben Mashburn, Tanner Smeltz, and Bronson Smeltz; her sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, extended family, and countless friends; as well as the family dog, Jase.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Karen’s viewing which will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

Family and friends may gather on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at Saint Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 3529 Saint Mary’s Road, Wapwallopen, for the celebration of Karen’s Mass of Christian Burial. The Reverend Father Joseph J. Evanko, her Pastor, will be the celebrant.

To share a memory of Karen or message of condolence with her family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Karen’s memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 and/or to Penn State’s Four Diamonds, PO Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033.

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