 Gerald (Gerry) W. Oakley of Kingsley Pennsylvania passed away suddenly at home on February 7th, 2026. Born on July 3, 1956, Gerald was the son of the late Walter M. Oakley and Carol Lou Stevens Oakley A lifetime resident of Kingsley, he graduated from Mountain View High School in 1974. Gerry was noted for his athletic prowess and sportsmanship in both basketball and soccer.
Following high school graduation Gerry attended Keystone College and the University of Oregon. Following this he was employed as a Conservation Ranger in Oregon . Returning to Pennsylvania, he was self-employed as a bluestone quarryman with his father and brothers. Surviving brothers and sisters include- Steven; Ann Palmer and husband Dave; Sandy Baker and husband Jeff; Penny Wheeler and husband Fred; Tim and wife Wendy; Michael and wife Michele; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gerry loved the outdoors and fishing and hunting. He most enjoyed sharing his hunting and fishing with his nieces, and nephews. His special skill and legacy were keeping the entire family well supplied with fish for which they were always grateful. A private celebration of life will be held later, to be determined. Gerry’s wish would be that we always spend more time outdoors with our children and youth.
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 Ann Marie Aylesworth, 80, of Nicholson passed away on Sunday February 1, 2026 at Regional Hospital in Scranton.
Her husband, Joseph Aylesworth passed away in 2022. Born August 18, 1945 in Scranton, she is the daughter of the late Joseph P. Mordent Sr. and Stasia Beckish Mordent. Prior to retiring Ann Marie worked for many years as a paralegal. She loved her community of Nicholson and spent 15 years as Mayor. She enjoyed traveling to Lancaster to shop and to New York City to watch shows on Broadway. One of her many joys was spending time with her furry companion, Precious. Ann Marie is also survived by a brother, Joseph (Rebecca) P. Mordent Jr; sons, Scott (Kim) Aylesworth and Eric (Rebecca) Aylesworth; grandson, Holden Aylesworth; sister-in-law Marsha Gordon; niece, Kim (George) Dougherty, and nephews Jimmy, Stephen, and Derrick Mordent. She was predeceased by her nephews, Charles Mordent and Joseph P. Mordent III. There will be a viewing on Thursday February 5, 2026 from 4-7pm in the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State Street, Nicholson. A celebration of Ann Marie's life will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family.  Cynthia Joy Collins, 82, of Tunkhannock passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her home on January 12, 2026. She is the widow of the late Tom Collins Sr.
Born in Pine Valley, New York she is the daughter of the late Sayre and Esther Soper Dillmore Sr. Prior to retiring she worked for many years in food service at Tyler Hospital. She enjoyed her work colleagues and the many dinner gatherings they had. She loved her cats. Cynthia is survived by her son, Mark Fenton; stepsons, Mike, Joe, Shawn, Pat, and Tom Jr.; and many grand & great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 4-6pm on Saturday January 24 in the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State Street, Nicholson.  Glenn David Brecht, 61, of Nicholson passed away on January 4, 2026 at Geisinger CMC in Scranton after a hard fought battle with cancer.
Born July 29, 1964 he is the son of the late David and Janet Davis Brecht. Glenn graduated from Lackawanna Trail High School in 1982. He spent many years working as a diesel mechanic and in the timber industry. He was a kind man who was generous to fault and would help anyone regardless of circumstance. He loved to ride motorcycles, tinker around (he could fix anything), listen to southern rock, and play spider solitaire. Glenn is survived by two daughters, Lindsay (Mike) Hutchins and Amber Brecht; a granddaughter, Lucy; a sister Donna (Elmer), a niece Brandi (Craige) Smith; and longtime girlfriend, Lisa Budzinski. He was also predeceased by a nephew, Josh Manzer. A celebration of Glenn’s life will be held at a later date.  Wilma (Willie) Baker Galloway, 79, of Kingsley formerly of Gray Court, South Carolina passed away January 5, 2026 at Meadow View Healthcare Center in Montrose.
Her husband of over forty years, James Galloway Jr., passed away in 2025. Wille, as she was affectionately known, worked at Beavers Restaurant in her younger years and then went on to spend over 35 years working at the Waffle House in South Carolina and became very much the local celebrity while serving her customers. Willie loved being home and spending time with her husband Jim and their travels with their RV. Willie also enjoyed quilting and collecting candles. She was also a volunteer at the Hop Bottom Community Food Pantry. Willie and Jim were also lifetime members of the VFW in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Willie is survived by her step children, Steve and Carol Galloway, Tammy Wilson, Joseph and Rebecca Mordent, Bobbie and Chuck Morris, and James and Tammy Galloway; her many grandchildren and her close grandchildren with whom she lived with, James, Stephen, and Derreck Mordent; her sisters, Betty Ziebel and family, Elena Burnett and family; sister in law, Shirley Hawk Derreck; and her pets, Button and Bows, and her very special kitty, Smokey. She was also predeceased by her mother and stepfather, Lois and Bob Luedtke; special aunt June Hickock; sister Sherry Baker; and grandson, Charles Mordent. A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date for Willie and her husband Jim. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Willie to the VFW Post 6223, 386 Main Street, Great Bend 18821 or the Hop Bottom Food Pantry, 8 Church Street, Hop Bottom 18824  Robert John Bobich, 77, of Hop Bottom, passed away on January 2, 2026.
Born May 5, 1948 in Scranton, he was the son of the late John and Carolyn (Bosak) Bobich. Bob graduated from Lackawanna Trail in 1966 and went on to have a long and successful career as an independent truck driver. He loved a good conversation and was never at a loss for words. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson, fishing, listening to bluegrass music, and attending music festivals. He had a deep love for animals and volunteered many hours at True Friends Animal Welfare in Montrose, providing comfort and assistance to pets in need. Bob is survived by his brother, Barry (Nancy) Bobich; his sister, Sharon Ayers; his nephew, Jeffrey Bobich; his nieces, Mechele Bobich and Ashlee (Dale) Gow; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his nephew, Brian Bobich. In accordance with Bob’s wishes, there will be no services. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and friends who offered care, support, and kindness during this time. Your compassion will always be remembered. Memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to True Friends Animal Welfare, 16332 PA‑706, Montrose, PA 18801. Kurt "The Ginger" Reploeg, 52, of Nicholson passed away suddenly on December 30, 2025. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado he is the son of the late David Reploeg who passed in 2024. His wife, Barbara Reploeg, passed away in 2021.
Kurt enjoyed spending time with his motorcycle, "The Mistress", as well as his brothers from the Second Brigade MC. His pride and joy were his four dogs, Oscar, Loki, Angel, and Sadie Mae. Kurt is survived by his brother, Karl (Ashley) Reploeg; his missing piece, Sheyanne; and many family and friends who loved him dearly. Family and friends may call on Friday, January 9th from 4-6pm in the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State Street, Nicholson.  Joseph Kielar passed away on December 20, 2025 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Joe courageously fought an acute battle with lymphoma, he was 59.
Born in Simpson, he is the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Kielar. Joe was a 1985 graduate of Lackawanna Trail High School. He lived and worked on the Polovitch Dairy Farm in Nicholson for 45 years and was a longtime member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Joe loved the outdoors and picking mushrooms in the woods. He was a dedicated farmer and as hardworking as they come. Joe is survived by his brothers, David (Dorothy) Kielar, Robert (Sarah) Damiano, Jeff (Shelley) Damiano, and Thomas Damiano; his loving Polovitch family, and several nephews. Funeral services, officiated by George Mecca, will be held on Monday, December 29th at 1pm in the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State Street, Nicholson. Family and friends may call from 11am until service time. Interment will be held in Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Donations may be made in memory of Joe to the American Cancer Society.  Jerald R. Croasdale, 89, of Nicholson was finally reunited with his beloved wife Shirley on December 11th, 2025. Born in Nicholson, he was the son of the late Enos and Lois Croasdale. A graduate of Nicholson High School in 1954; he owned and operated his family farm until his retirement.
Jerry was an avid hunter and trapper, often spending many nights coon hunting with his blue tick Joe. He was a founding member of the Lymanville Rod and Gun Club where he helped organize their annual coyote hunt. He was a true farmer who knew the dedication and hard work required to run a successful farm. His work ethic was the foundation of how he raised his family. He was a member of the West Nicholson United Methodist Church. Surviving are his two sons, Verne Croasdale and Richard (Brenda) Croasdale of Nicholson; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters: Lois and Enid; brother: John. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Croasdale; sister, Jane and brothers Dean and Jimmy. The family expresses sincere gratitude to Jerry’s caregiver Francie Coats. Her compassionate care improved his quality of life and allowed him to remain in his home. Family and friends may pay their respects on Sunday, December 14 from 4-7pm in the Charles Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State Street, Nicholson. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 15 at 11am at the funeral home. Interment will be held in the Nicholson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The West Nicholson United Methodist Church, PO Box 151, Nicholson PA 18446  Gerald George (Louie, Poppy Jer) Herron passed away on November 27, 2025 at Allied Services Hospice Center in Scranton after a lengthy illness.
His wife of 50 years, Sharon Oakley Herron, passed away in November 2013. Born in Duryea, he is the son of the late George and Ella Herron. He graduated from Duryea High School. He then joined the United States Marines and later the Marine Reserves. He worked at Procter and Gamble from which he retired after 35 years. Jerry enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid salmon fisherman taking many trips to Pulaski. He also enjoyed his Nascar races with his sister, even attending a race as a surprise for Father’s Day. During the mid-50’s he put Duryea on the map, becoming a local hero, winning the soap box derby championship and going on to place in Akron, Ohio. His true passion later became serving the community. He was a member of numerous fire companies, calling Nicholson his home, where he served as Chief for many years. Jerry was also partially responsible for his role in getting a rope rescue and confined space team for Lackawanna and surrounding areas. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Jerry is survived by two daughters, Lisa Iyoob (Ted Toma) and Tracy Kilmer; three grandchildren, Jason Iyoob (Jen), Amanda Carpenter (Tim), and Kyle Kilmer (Emily); seven great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his sister, Jaqueline Herron. A special thank you is extended to Jason for being Jerry’s caretaker. Funeral services performed by Rev. Jon Shaffer will be held on Saturday, December 6th at 12:30pm in the new Nicholson Fire Company station, Main Street, Nicholson. Friends and family may call from 10am until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow the services. Interment will be held at a later date in the Marcy Cemetery, Duryea. |
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