Thomas J. Mushala, Sr., 71, a resident of Hunlock Creek, passed away on Saturday evening, March 08, 2014, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

His loving wife is Catherine T. (Sinay) Mushala. Together, Thomas and Catherine shared 47 wonderful years of marriage.

Born on July 16, 1942, in the Buttonwood section of Hanover Township, Thomas was the son of the late James and Mary Mushala.

Raised in Buttonwood, Thomas was a graduate of Hanover High School, Class of 1960. Later, he went on to further his education by taking courses at Marywood University, Scranton.

A United States Army veteran, Thomas honorably served his country for two years as a Private First Class with the 3^rd Administration Company of the 3^rd Infantry Division in West Germany. Thomas was honorably discharged on November 04, 1964, just three months after the beginning of the Vietnam War. 

During the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, Thomas was employed as a Capitol Police Officer at the White House. Upon returning to the local area, Thomas became employed by the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant after thirty-one years there.

A faithful Catholic, Thomas was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Lake Silkworth.

Thomas was a 41 year member of the American Legion, Andrew Lawrence Post 644, Swoyersville and was also a member of the Pennsylvania Retired State Employees Association.

An avid outdoorsman, Thomas found great enjoyment in hunting and golfing. He also enjoyed watching baseball and was a great fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Family was the center of Thomas’ life and he cherished every moment he had with his loved ones. He leaves behind a legacy of being a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle and friend.

In addition to his parents, Thomas was preceded in death by his uncle and dear friend, Joseph “Uncle Murph” Mushalla.

In addition to his wife, Catherine, Thomas is survived by his children, Cheryl Mushala and her husband Paul Maher, McMurray, Pennsylvania; Thomas J. Mushala, Jr. and his wife Silvia, Benton; his grandchildren, Curtis and Lauren Maher; Sidney and Kayla Mushala; his many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Friday, March 14, 2014, at 10:00 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 2011 State Route 29, Lake Silkworth, with the Reverend Richard Fox, his Pastor, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Stephen’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Lehman, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army.

Family and Friends are invited to call on Thursday, March 13, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM and again on Friday morning, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, at the funeral home.

For additional information or to send the Mushala 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 Thomas’ memory to the Lake

Silkworth Volunteer Ambulance Association, 1875 State Route 29, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 or to the American Heart Association, 5455 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214.