Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home

03/16/2026

Charlotte Ann Hopfer, age 82 of Noxen, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Monroe Township on September 6, 1943 and was the daughter of the late Harvey and Leah Patton.

Charlotte attended Tunkhannock and Dallas School Districts. She was employed as a seamstress at a Noxen dress factory, a welder at Encon, Offset Paperback, and as a dietary aid for Methodist Homes in Tunkhannock. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Noxen Fire Co., Evans Falls Methodist Church, and Eastern Star. She was an avid reader and gardener and enjoyed spending time with all her family, especially her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, David ; brother, Perry.

Charlotte is survived by her son, David Hopfer ( Donna) of Noxen; grandsons: Matthew (Sharon) and Garrett (Alizabeth); 5 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters; numerous nieces and nephews.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

Memorial donations can be made to the Noxen Fire Department, 3493 Stull Rd., Noxen, PA 18636 or Noxen Ambulance Assoc., 142 Elizabeth St., Noxen, PA 18636.

Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com

03/14/2026

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03/11/2026

Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Alice Louise Penhale Lent, age 86 of Shickshinny, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Allied Hospice Meade St., Wilkes-Barre.

She was born in Wilkes-Barre on July 7, 1939 and was the beloved daughter of the late Thomas, Sr. and Louise (Fry) Penhale.

Alice graduated from Nanticoke High School in 1957 and then went on to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse in 1960. “Alice Lent, R.N.,” as she was fondly known by many, went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. She returned to the Wilkes-Barre area and continued her nursing career path in Public Health. It was during this time that she met her true love and soul mate, William Burdett Lent. They married in January 1966 and built a life together for 44 years until Bill’s death in August 2010. After marrying Bill, Alice became a school nurse and had a successful and fulfilling 25 year career in the Northwest Area School District, retiring in the late 1990’s. Alice was involved in community and church activities and nursing care advocacy. Primarily she was devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, and friends, including many gatherings at the farm.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Lent; brother, Thomas Penhale, Jr.

Alice is survived by her children, Rebecca Correllus and her husband, Douglas of Beacon, NY; Matthew Lent and his wife, Michelle of Frostburg, MD; Christopher Lent and his wife, Amanda Birk of Shickshinny; Five loving granddaughters: Madelyn, Allyson, Abigail, Gwendolyn and Meredith; One loving grandson, Owen; cousin, Lance Penhale; several nephews and other cousins.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Donna Dickinson, Certified Lay Minister of the Muhlenberg United Methodist Church, officiating.

Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Interment will be in Bloomindale Cemetery, Ross Twp.

Memorial donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 or St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com

03/10/2026

Anthony W. Yockavitch (Tony), 71, of Fort Myers, FL and formerly of Sweet Valley, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2026, with his family at his side.

He was born in Wilkes-Barre on May 14, 1954, the son of the late Anthony P. “Yock” and Lois Cragle Yockavitch.

Tony graduated from Lake-Lehman High School, Class of 1972. He enjoyed growing up and working on the family farm in Sweet Valley, and was employed at Inter-Metro Industries. Along with his family, Tony owned and operated the Video Showcase in Sweet Valley for 25 years, where he enjoyed connecting with the local customers.

Tony was a loving son, brother, and uncle. While he would often be seen outside caring for his property, it was his family that filled most of his time, and his heart. Tony influenced a family generation, showing what it looks like to love unconditionally, give selflessly, and laugh abundantly.

Tony is survived by sister Kathy Lynn and her daughter Tammy; loving brother Jeff and his caring wife Elizabeth of Fort Myers, FL, and the lights of his life, niece Jessica Hauze and her husband Jesse of Sweet Valley, nephews Joshua Wilkey (Michelle) of Edison, NJ and Bradley Snyder (Mandy) of Lopatcong, NJ, and the newest joy in Tony’s life, great-nephew Parker Hauze.

A celebration of life will be held at the convenience of the family to honor Tony’s life and the impact he had on his family and friends.

03/09/2026

Karen A. (Benscoter) Blaine, age 76 of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026 at the Allied Services Meade St. Skilled Nursing, Wilkes-Barre.

She was born in Nanticoke on October 23, 1949 and was the daughter of the late Glenn and Eloise Benscoter.

Karen was a member of the Our Lady of Hope Church in Wilkes-Barre where she was a member of the crocheting ministry and was a Eucharistic Minister. She volunteered at the Plymouth Library and Pet Smart, where she spent time with the animals. Karen was employed at Lord and Taylor in Wilkes-Barre. She was an avid reader of Steven King books and enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by fur babies, Smudge, Ashley and Betty Ann; nephew, Doug.

Karen is survived by her husband of 26 years, Joseph; children, Joe Blaine, Jr. (Cindy Ann) of Harveys Lake, Angela Harmon (Shawn) of Idetown and Jessie Zim of Nanticoke; numerous grandchildren; dogs, Shane, Melonie and Ginger; cat, Lacy.

A memorial service will be held Thursday March 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with her nephew, Pastor Richard Blaine, officiating.

Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial donations can be made to Rescue Pets Serving Vets, 4793 Red Rock Rd., Benton, PA 17814.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to longtime family friends, Helene and John, Jorge, Maria and Angela, Katie, Marianne and Carl, Steve and Stella, and to the staff at Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Allied Hospice Meade St. for making her last days more comfortable.

Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com

03/03/2026

James Matthew Eustice Sutton, known to most as “Biscuit”, age 35 of Lehman, passed away on March 2, 2026, after a long and difficult battle with colon cancer. Born July 6, 1990, in Harrisburg, James was the son of Wayne Sutton of Lehman and Susan (Dale) Hungler of Miami, FL.

A well-known and beloved face throughout the Back Mountain community, James never met a stranger. He was a 2008 graduate of Lake-Lehman High School and grew up participating in the Back Mountain Little League, the Noxen Strikers, and the Back Mountain Wrestling Club—memories and friendships he cherished throughout his life.

James was a devoted father, son, brother, and uncle who filled his family’s lives with humor, cheer, and constant encouragement. He was his family’s biggest cheerleader, often found on the sidelines of games or in the audience of plays and concerts, beaming with pride as he watched the children in his life perform. An avid fan of Bob’s Burgers and Ted Lasso, he was known for his persistent (and often successful) efforts to convince everyone around him to share in his love for the shows.

In 2025, James was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. In his memory, his family honors his wish that others might be spared from this disease by urging everyone to schedule a colonoscopy as early as possible.

James is survived by his two children, David and Stella; his father, Wayne; his mother, Susan; and his grandmother, Patricia (Smith) Dale of West Palm Beach, FL. He also leaves behind his siblings: Jennifer (Thomas) Johnson of Harveys Lake, Joshua (Allison) Sutton of Lehman, and Jason (Katie) Sutton of Tunkhannock; as well as his nephews, Michael Johnson and Ezra Sutton, and nieces, Nell and Laurel Johnson. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William and Geraldine (Eustice) Sutton; his grandfather, D. Glen Dale; and his beloved uncle, John Dale.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM from the Lehman-Idetown UMC, 1011 Mountain View Dr., Lehman, PA 18612 with Pastor John Whitehead, officiating. While flowers are appreciated, the family would be equally touched by a donation made in James's name to the organization of your choice.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com

03/02/2026

Ralph J. McCormack, Jr., age 79 of Noxen, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026 at the Tiffany Court at Kingston.

He was born in Wilkes-Barre on February 13, 1947 and was the son of the late Ralph, Sr. and Helen Marie McCormack.

Ralph graduated from Dallas High School and then obtained an associate’s degree from the Community College of the Air Force. He worked at Modern Handling and Action Lift as a parts manager. Ralph retired from the US Air Force as a chief master sergeant after serving for 27 years including the Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts. He was a member of the Noxen Bible Baptist Church and the Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457. Ralph also served with the Noxen Community Ambulance Association and the Noxen Fire Co. He enjoyed woodworking and making wooden toys. He was a loving husband and father.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine.

Ralph is survived by his son, Matthew McCormack of Noxen; sister, Marlene McCormack of Bend, OR; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM from the Noxen Baptist Bible Church, 3622 State Route 29, Noxen, PA 18636, with Pastor Ben Hubbell, officiating.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

Memorial donations can be made to the Noxen Fire Co., 3493 Stull Rd., Noxen, PA 18636 and Noxen Bible Baptist Church, 3604 State Route 29S, Noxen, PA 18636.

Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com

02/24/2026

Charles “Chuckie” R. Gunton, age 68 of Noxen, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2026 at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre.

He was born in Buffalo, NY on December 25, 1957 and was the son of the late John and Elizabeth Brenner Gunton.

Chuck graduated from Tunkhannock High School, Class of 1975, and received his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus, in architecture. He worked at Hillard, Inc., and several other architectural companies before starting CG Designs, LLC, where he was the owner and operator. He enjoyed playing pool and loved swimming and fishing at Nuangola Lake, where he also entertained and had picnics with his nieces and nephews. Chuck loved classic cars and was a member of the Hi Lites Motor Club. He was a selfless man who could lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Chuck also enjoyed working on cars with his late Uncle Spence, and had a great love of his pets, especially his buddy, Chunk.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by stepmother, Juanita Andres.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 8 years, the former Patti Correll (Fayash), who he had known for 20 years; children, Tara Fayash of Surprise, AZ, Tiffany Price (Tim) of Bloomsburg, Andrew Fayash, III (Ashley) of Mary-D, PA; grandchildren, Trinity, Talan, Araya, and Amelia; siblings, David Gunton, Cindy Bosak, and Joanne Kvashay; and 5 nieces and 2 nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 2, 2025 at 10:30 AM from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Pastor Ben Hubbell of the Noxen Bible Baptist Church, officiating.

Visitation will be from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM on Monday before the service at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Dymond Section of Orcutt’s Grove Cemetery, Noxen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Noxen Neighborhood Center, Corp, with checks payable to: SOWYCO, 3600 State Route 29 S., Noxen, PA 18636

Online condolences may be made to clswansonfuneralhome.com

Chuck will be sorely missed by all of his family, associates, and friends.

02/20/2026

Dear Friends and Family,

We're thrilled to announce that the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home has been nominated for Funeral Home of the Year for 2025! We'd be grateful if you could spare a minute to cast your vote for us. Simply follow the link below and scroll down to the "Funeral Home" category. You should find a green VOTE button next to "Swansons". A tremendous thank you to all those who vote for us and for all of your continued trust and support in our funeral home!

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02/18/2026

Rita Sanders, age 64 of Edwardsville, passed away Friday, February 13, 2026 at home, following an unexpected house fire.

She was born in Dallas, TX on January 6, 1962 and was the daughter of the late Glenn Gee and Carol Taylor.

Rita had been employed as an accountant for many years. She enjoyed traveling and living in different locations. Rita had a great love of animals, especially cats. This led her to start her own cat rescue service, Second Chance for Strays; she lived and died for them.

In addition to her parents, Rita is preceded in death by her soulmate, Levan.

She is survived by her son, Shawn Joyce of New York; granddaughter, Bella Carol; sisters, Anne Neaus of Berwick and Rose Karasek of Sweet Valley; several nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a GoFundMe fundraiser at https://gofund.me/cee5194cb

Online condolences may be made to clswansonfuneralhome.com

02/16/2026

Lloyd A. Lamoreaux, Sr., age 64 of Hunlock Creek, passed away Saturday, February 14, 2026 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Wilkes-Barre on September 18, 1961 and was the son of the late Sheldon and Audrey Sayre Lamoreaux.

Lloyd graduated from West Side Vo-Tech in 1981, where he focused on upholstery. He worked for Sunshine Market, Phoenix Manufacturing in Nanticoke where he worked in shipping and receiving, and most recently at PAMSCO as an HVAC general laborer. Lloyd was a member of Suskie Bassmasters and various other fishing clubs. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, loved to ride motorcycles and attending classic car and various outdoor sportsman shows. Lloyd loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Lloyd is preceded in death by an infant son; granddaughter, Lexie Lamoreaux; twin sister, Rene Lamoreaux; sister, Sharon Rood.

Lloyd is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathleen; son, Lloyd Lamoreaux, Jr (Amanda) of Hunlock Creek; daughter, Amber Lynn LaBar (David) of Hunlock Creek; brothers, Sheldon “Skip” Lamoreaux (Rosanne) and William “Bill” Lamoreaux (Debra); sister-in-law, Susan Slabinski (Frank); grandchildren, Lillian, Lydia, Olivia and Brody; several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Chaplain Gerlin Valencia of Allied Services Hospice, officiating

Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.

Future interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Allied Hospice, 100 Abington Executive Park, Clarks Summit, PA 18411

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Allied Hospice and Medical Oncology Associates in Kingston, specifically Dr. Greenwald, for the love and care given to Lloyd.

Online condolences may be made to clswansonfuneralhome.com

02/15/2026

Virginia Ann Major, age 90, passed away on Tuesday evening February 10, 2026 at The Meadows Nursing Home in Dallas, PA.

‘Ginny’ was born October 26, 1935, in Huntsville, Pa, the youngest of four girls, to Robert John & Erma Grace (Weidner) Culp. She graduated from Lehman High school in 1953, where she was active in the student body, serving as Class Historian, Captain of the girls’ basketball team, and a Majorette with the marching band. Ginny was employed by ACME Markets Warehouse for almost 40 years, eventually being promoted to an Assistant Buyer position. She was a faithful member of the Huntsville Christian Church (later Freedom Hill Church), and served many years as Church
Secretary under several pastors. Ginny was also a Senior Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics- her team was affectionately known as ‘The Major League’.

Ginny was a fierce friend to many and a dedicated worker, but her faith and her family were her most important calling. Even as a single parent, Ginny did it all. She was a Lake Lehman band parent volunteer and chaperone, active member of the Susquehanna Trailers family hiking club, one of her daughter’s official Miss PA chaperones, her son’s most present fan as he excelled in 4 different sports over a 6 year span, and she stepped up to coach her daughter’s team (The Reds) in the Inaugural seasons of girls Little League softball in the United States starting in 1974- even winning the championship in their 2nd season. She was later dubbed ‘Ma Ginny’ by her grandchildren, one of her most prized titles.

A woman of extraordinary resilience, Ginny was not only a breast cancer survivor but also fought her way back to health after a brain aneurysm rupture & stroke at the age of 53, and a severe car accident in her late 60’s, and many other health trials. She only reluctantly gave up driving in 2022- and that independence had shaped in her at an early age. She worked multiple jobs as a young girl to pay for her own bike, new shoes, and clothes, and faithfully walked each day to her one-room schoolhouse, fondly known among her classmates as the “pest house”. Ginny’s positive spirit and content nature never wavered, and she never lost sight of her heavenly purpose. She wished to share one of her favorite scriptures, one that she lived out on a daily basis: “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

Ginny was predeceased by her parents Bob & Erma Culp, sisters Alice Ross and Midge Kern, and many of her dearest friends. She is survived by sister Charlotte Ashton, many nieces and nephews, daughters Gina Major Ackerman and Judy Harvey (Jay), son Mark Major; grandchildren Irina Ackerman, Mariya (Tommy) Donelan, Yuri Ackerman, Robert Aloysha Ackerman, Bryn Harvey Fussell (Jamie), Zac Harvey, Tyler Harvey; and great-grandsons Kai and Remy Fussell.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Fellowship Church, at a time yet to be determined by the family.

Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the following: Fellowship Church, 45 Hildebrandt Road, Dallas Pa. 18612, or to The Meadows Nursing Center 4 East Center Hill Road, Dallas PA, 18612.

Online condolences may be made to clswansonfuneralhome.com