Marcella Kosik

Marcella Kosik died Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton. She was 92 years old.

Marcella was born in Pittston, PA on May 9, 1930, to George and Anna (Berkant) Dobilas. The family resided on Schooley Street in Exeter during her childhood. She was valedictorian of the 1947 class at Exeter High School, after which her family lived in Pittston. She was an active member of the St. Casimir’s parish community, singing in the well-known church choir in the 1940s and 1950s.

She married George M. Kosik on June 21, 1952 and they raised five children in a house they built in Dupont: Mary Ann, Dupont, George Jr. (Janice), Laflin, Richard (Carolynn), Hughestown, Atty. Robert (Patricia), Arlington, VA, and Dr. James (JoAnn), Laflin. She ultimately welcomed ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Richie Kosik (Grace) and son Cooper, Avoca, Brian Kosik (Samantha) and daughter Riley, Telford, PA, Kevin Kosik (fianceé,

Kaylie Grella), Laflin, Sarah Pacyna (Brandon) and son Parker, Hughestown, Robert Kosik, Washington DC, Michael Kosik (Sydney), Windermere, FL, Julie Kosik, Laflin, Andrew Kosik, Arlington, VA, James Kosik, Philadelphia, PA, and Jocelyn Kosik, Laflin. She was preceded in death by sister Regina Poplawski, and is survived by sister Christina Warnagiris, brother George Dobilas, Huntington Beach, CA, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Marcella worked as a legal secretary, and after years off to raise her family, she returned to work as a secretary/transcription typist in the U.S. Government civil service system, working in Scranton, Lackawaxen, the Tobyhanna Army Depot, and Wilkes-Barre.

Her life truly revolved around supporting her family. The daughter of a coal miner, she and George raised their children through college/post-graduate degrees. She was a fixture at church and school events at St. John the Baptist RC Church, Pittston, where George served as a Eucharistic Minister. Their free time was devoted to helping other family members, whether building and maintaining houses, caring for sick relatives, or visiting distant ones. After George died in November 1996, Marcella continued to be an active presence at her grandchildren’s many personal, professional and school events including at Seton Catholic High School, Pittston Area High School, Wyoming Area Catholic Grade School, Holy Redeemer High School, and many colleges. She was a lifelong regular at St. John the Baptist parish and later St. Maria Goretti parish.

Marcella attended the initial summer gathering of her extended family in 1951 and she became one of the most ardent advocates for the henceforth annual Berkant Family Reunion, attending every single event for more than 65 years. She returned once again this July, offering many memories of past reunions and collecting her regular prize for being the oldest family member in attendance.

She loved to cook, regularly hosting holiday dinners for the whole family, baking with old-country Lithuanian and Slovak recipes, and rolling out pierogis with assembly-line speed. She enjoyed hand-stitching quilts and crocheting afghans. She was a lifelong reader, thinker, and learner, always ready to share her informed opinion on the news of the day. Her long life was not accomplished without a few hospital stays and rehab visits, but she succeeded in one of her oft-stated preferences – to live out her days at the house she and George built and called home since 1955.

She touched the lives of many and will be truly missed.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 pm in Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William Street, Pittston with a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 10 AM in St. Maria Goretti Church, 42 Redwood Drive, Laflin. Those wishing to attend the mass should proceed directly to the church. The St. Maria Goretti Bereavement Group will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary one-half hour prior to the mass. Interment will be at St. John the Baptist cemetery, Exeter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Marcella’s name to the charity of choice.

#Kosik