Stella Margaret Landers

P. DEAN HOMER FUNERAL HOME 206 WATER STREET PO BOX 1 DUSHORE, PA 18614 TEL 570 928-8163 FAX 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net OBITUARY October 23, 2012 Stella M. Landers, age 102, formerly of Sullivan Terrace, Dushore and the Wyalusing Valley Personal Care Home passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at the Ashton Care Center in Athens, PA. Stella was born on February 5, 1910, in Kingston, PA, a daughter of the late John and Michalena Sarzewski Nejako. Stella attended school in Huntington Mills, PA having to walk a mile to and from school every day. At seven years old Stella’s father died in a mine rock fall. Her mother then bought a small farm thus being able to support her family and later married Stanley Kochinski. Stella had to quit school to go to work to help the family. Later, she and her sister Victoria moved to New York City to work as domestics. She met her future husband, John Landers, an Irish immigrant, through friends. They married on June 13, 1937 and moved to Brooklyn and John worked in an office for New York Life Insurance Co. in Manhattan. Stella moved to Dushore in 1983 with her husband to retire. On July 11, 2002, she moved into her new home, the Wyalusing Valley Personal Care Home. Stella was a very good Catholic and a member of St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA and an active member of its Altar & Rosary Society. While in Dushore, she enjoyed having many friends in for lunch or dinner since she was an excellent cook and baker. She always enjoying lively conversations as she kept up on all local and world news. She was always willing to help others and was pleasant and friendly to all. Most days, while in her 80’s, she still walked a mile or more each day always enjoying the exercise. Stella is survived by a special great-niece, Carol Gayeski of Rochester, NY, and by a special niece and nephew, John Grajewski, of Shickshinny, PA., and Regina Sill of Arizona, and by two special friends, Janet Schrann of Sayre, PA. and Francine Cartaginese, formerly of Dushore. Stella was predeceased in death by her parents, her husband John on November 13, 1986, and by her brothers, Anthony Nejako, Zigmund Nejako, Frank Nejako and John Nejako (Stella’s twin who died in infancy); and sisters, Victoria ¬¬¬¬Queal, Anna Grajewski, and Julia Houseknecht. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA with the Rev. Joseph R. Hornick, her pastor, presiding. Interment will be in St. Basil’s Cemetery, Dushore, PA. Friends may call at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the Mass. The family will provide the flowers and ask that memorials be directed to St. Basil’s Restoration Fund, PO Box 307, Dushore, PA 18614. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Stella Margaret Landers, please visit our flower store.