Mary M. Occhiato, 75, a resident of Laflin, passed peacefully into eternal life on Thursday morning, February 23, 2023, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

Her loving husband is Albert D. Occhiato. Together, Albert and Mary celebrated their 51^st wedding anniversary on August 14, 2022.

Born on June 3, 1947, in Kingston, Mary was one of four children born to the late Stanley J. Kovaleski and Victoria A. Mucha Kovaleski.

Raised in Swoyersville, Mary was a graduate of the former West Side Central Catholic High School, Class of 1965. Following high school, she went on to further her education at Misericordia University, then College Misericordia, where, in 1969, she acquired her Bachelors Degree in Education with concentrations in Latin and French.

Prior to her retirement in 2006, Mary was employed as a Latin and French teacher at Wyoming Valley West High School, Plymouth.

A woman of strong faith, Mary was a devout member of Saint Maria Goretti Church, Laflin, where she held membership with the Parish Rosary Group.

Mary had a kind and gentle soul, and she enjoyed in the simple pleasures in life such as working the daily crossword puzzles; meeting with her book club friends from Wyoming Valley West; going on vacations with her family; and an occasional trip to a casino.

Above all, family brought Mary the greatest joy in life and she cherished every moment she shared with her loved ones, most especially the time she shared with her beloved grandchildren. Although her beautiful presence will be missed beyond measure, her spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of her loved ones.

In addition to her parents, Stanley and Victoria Kovaleski, Mary was preceded in death by her brother, John Kovaleski; her sister, Connie Chajko and her husband, Joseph “Chick” Chajko; and her sister-in-law, Gerrie Kovaleski.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Albert; her three daughters, Tara Occhiato, West Pittston; Deanna Speicher and her husband, A.J., Dallas; and Maria Cassidy, Plains Township; her four grandchildren, Victoria Reggie, Jacob Speicher, Nicholas Speicher, and Kayla Cassidy; her brother, Joseph Kovaleski, Jenkins Township; her sisters-in-law, Joanne Kovaleski, Jenkins Township; and Marion Occhiato, West Pittston; as well as her numerous nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Mary’s viewing which will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

Mary’s funeral service will begin on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 9:15 AM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Saint Maria Goretti Church, 42 Redwood Drive, Laflin, with the Reverend Father Alex Roche, her Pastor, officiating.

The Parish Rosary Group of Saint Maria Goretti Church will recite the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM, in the church.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in the Denison Cemetery, Swoyersville.

To send Mary’s family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home’s website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

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