Obituary of Emma B. Watkins

Emma Belle Watkins, 94 years young, of 25 Avery St., Susquehanna Apartments, Tunkhannock died unexpectedly on June 1, 2008 in Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock. “Mom” as she was commonly referred by all was born in Hop Bottom on December 21, 1913 daughter of the late Laverne and Bertha Urbach Lord. She was preceded in death by her first husband Henry (Hank) Valentine in November of 1955 and her second husband Robert Watkins of Nicholson. Prior to her retirement she worked for Kodak and Endicott Johnson Shoe Company in Binghamton, NY. She and her first husband Hank owned their own Real Estate agency in New York until they moved to Pennsylvania and bought a farm in the Nicholson Hop Bottom Area. Emma also worked as a nurse’s aid prior to her retirement. She was a loving Homemaker, Mother, Grandmother, and friend to all with a keen love of life. She was a true Penn State Fan, loved watching NASCAR races. Gardening was her passion and she enjoyed traveling and family gatherings. She was an avid deer hunter and continued to hut well into her late eighties. She was precede in death by sisters Alberta Lord and Lydia Taylor, brothers Harold, Clarence, Vannoy, Lawrence and Leslie Lord. And a great, grand-daughter Skylar Saranchuk, who died on April 28, 2008. Surviving is a daughter Alberta Gozikowski and husband Joseph of Tunkhannock, Her love and life was her grandson David Saranchuk and wife Khristy of West Pittston and their children Ben, Carly Morgan and Erik David Saranchuk. Step grandchildren Sandy and Steven Brown and their children Colton and Chansen of Tunkhannock and Debra and Fred Wademan and their daughter Cassie of Dalton. She was an adopted grandmother to Gregory Palmer of Dupont who she loved to hear sing. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday evening at 8 pm from the Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock with Mrs. Lori Robinson of the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Nicholson Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 pm until the time of service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Skylar Saranchuk Scholarship Fund c/o UFCW Federal Credit Union, PO Box 4258, Wyoming, Pa. 18644.