Marlene E. Porter, 83, a former resident of Kingston and a current resident of Swoyersville, passed peacefully into eternal life with her loving family at her side on Sunday morning, July 27, 2025, in the comfort of her home.

Born on August 24, 1941, in Swoyersville, Marlene was the daughter of the late John Hornick and Anna Plesnichar Hornick. Losing both her parents at a very young age, Marlene was cared for by her beloved aunt, the late Catherine “Kate” Stach, who passed away on December 31, 2013.

Marlene attended Holy Trinity Grade School and graduated from the former Swoyersville High School, Class of 1959, where she served as captain of the cheerleaders and secretary of the Senior Class. Marlene also attended Wilkes-Barre Business College and Luzerne County Community College.

As a young woman, Marlene worked as a secretary for the Stegmaier Brewery and as a telephone operator for the Bell Telephone Company, both in Wilkes-Barre. After her first child was born in 1968, she became a devoted stay-at-home mom of four children. After becoming a single parent, Marlene worked tirelessly at multiple jobs while providing for her family. She successfully secured a corporate position in the accounting department of Nabisco Brands in Hanover Township and enjoyed working there for many years until her retirement.

A devout Catholic, Marlene was a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Holy Trinity Church in Swoyersville, and was a former member of Saint Ignatius Loyola Church in Kingston. Her unwavering faith sustained her through the many peaks and valleys of her life, and she left this world with great excitement about meeting her Savior.

Known by all for her kindness, warmth, and optimism, Marlene had a zest for life and a joy about her that was simply infectious – her selfless attitude led her to find the positive in every single facet of her life. Her loving and outgoing personality always shone bright – her warm hugs and laugh were legendary, and she made friends wherever she went. Her spaghetti dinners were a fan favorite. Her ability to remember everyone’s birthday and their life stories was nothing short of amazing. Marlene’s greatest desire was to see others happy and fulfilled.

Marlene had exceptional wit and enjoyed traveling, window shopping, hunting for treasures at yard sales, dining out, jamming to music, reading the newspaper from cover to cover, and watching American Idol. In her later years, you could often find her cozied up on the couch reading or watching Hallmark movies and the Bachelor series with a beloved bowl of ice cream.

Known for her lifelong love of sports, she was, without a doubt, the world’s greatest fan of the Penn State Nittany Lions. She recently had the opportunity to meet James Franklin and claimed it was a highlight of her life. A dedicated ESPN viewer, her grandsons regarded her as the best amateur sports analyst of all time.  Marlene proudly won the family’s annual March Madness pool multiple times.

Above all, Marlene will be remembered for the abundance of love and devotion she showered upon her loved ones, most especially her children and grandchildren. An extremely proud grandma, she never missed an opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. She took great joy in celebrating each of their unique traits and accomplishments. Marlene truly left this world a much brighter place, and her beautiful legacy will live on forever in the hearts of those she loved.

Left to cherish her memory are her four children, Christopher Porter and his wife, Kerri, Winchester, Massachusetts; Maria Kautter and her husband, Rich, Pittsburgh; Michelle Wood, Charlotte, North Carolina; and Theresa Porter, Swoyersville; her six grandchildren, Ainsley Porter, Callahan Porter, Zachary Kautter, Rowen Kautter, Josephine Wood, and Natalie Wood; her three sisters, Barbara Puchalsky and her husband, Larry, Hartford, Connecticut; Alice Hornick, Forty Fort; and Elaine Pollick, Wilkes-Barre; as well as her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Marlene’s Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated on Saturday, August 02, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Saint Therese Church, 64 Davis Street, Shavertown, with the Reverend Father Joseph J. Pisaneschi, Pastor, officiating.

A private family burial service will be in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Township.

The viewing will be private for Marlene’s family members and friends.

The Porter Family entrusted Marlene’s funeral arrangements to the care of the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

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

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marlene’s memory to the Luzerne County Head Start Program by visiting www.lcheadstart.org/donate.

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