Obituary of Sally A. Palmer

Sally Ann Palmer of Lake Winola passed away on Sunday morning, June 26, 2011 at Mercy Hospital, Scranton, PA. She was born Stephanie Elizabeth Matylewicz on July 27, 1937 in Scranton, PA, daughter of the late Adam R. and Helen Kazmierski Matylewicz. Sally was the 2nd youngest of nine children and was raised near Lake Winola and educated at Falls Overfield High School. She so loved the area and people of the lake that she happily lived there her whole life. Always an extremely good writer, she was the Lake Winola news correspondent for the Wyoming County Press Examiner for 29 years. She also worked as the Overfield Township secretary for 8 years. Although she suffered from various health issues over the years, which ended her writing career among other activities, her mind stayed strong and her upbeat personality never wavered. She was well taken care of in her later years by her devoted children, most especially by her son, John, and daughter-in-law, Sandra, and also her caregiver, Marilyn Coolbaugh. Sally was a lifelong and dedicated member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church, Lake Winola. She worked endless hours arranging flowers for the church masses, setting up for the annual rummage sale and helping out at all the different events until health issues prevented her from doing so. She was also a member of St. Mary’s Altar & Rosary Society. Always a political enthusiast, Sally was also an active member of the Wyoming County Democratic Women’s Society for many years. Although she loved being home, Sally had the opportunity to take a cherished, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe and traveled extensively through Germany, France, Yugoslavia, etc. to visit her son, Jerry, who was stationed in Germany. She also traveled to Florida with her family and enjoyed trips, including a cruise, with her sister and brother-in-law, Thelma & Phil Shebby, and loyal friends, Peg & Norm Ball. The most important things in life to Sally were her family and friends, of which there were many. She also cherished her beloved dog, Smokey, who passed away this past January and her cat, Peaches. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 38 years, Jack Palmer, who passed away in 2005; brothers, Leonard , Carl , Bernie , Adam and Jerry Matylewicz and sister, Eleanor Puza. She is survived by son Gerald W. Marish and his wife, Janet Schmidt, Clarks Summit; son John P. Palmer and his wife, Sandra, Lake Winola; daughter Colleen Palmer Ell and her husband David, Tunkhannock; daughter Stephanie Palmer Jones and her husband, David, Lake Winola; brother Robert Matylewicz, Lake Winola; sister Thelma Shebby, Lake Winola, five grandchildren: Morgan, Molly and Carla Palmer, Lake Winola and Ryan and Jessica Ell of Tunkhannock; many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00am with a Mass of Christian Burial from St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Lake Winola. Family and friends are requested to go directly to the church. Interment will be in Pieta Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Friends may call at the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA, on Tuesday from 5:00pm-8:00pm. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Lake Winola. On line condolences may be sent to the family at www.sheldonkukuchkafuneralhome.com.