Obituary of Gloria J. Eastwood

Gloria Jean Szerafinski Eastwood, 77, entered fully into the presence of her Lord and Savior on July 5, 2018 surrounded by her family, after a valiant battle with brain cancer.  Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Gloria was born in Lake Winola to the late Walter and Ruth Szerafinski.  Gloria grew up a farmer’s daughter.  She graduated from Fall Overfield High School and then attended and graduated from Robert Packer Nursing School.  Gloria worked as a private duty nurse during the years she cared for her young family.  She then took a part time position as a nurse at Carpenter Care Center in Tunkhannock, PA.  She eventually became the Director of Nurses at the Nursing Home.  Gloria would often say her earthly passion was nursing and she loved caring for others in this way.  One to never sit still, upon her retirement from nursing, Gloria took on the role of church secretary at Grace Fellowship Church in Tunkhannock.  She loved the time she could spend with those in her church family and serving the Lord in this way.  The last position that Gloria held was the one she loved the most.  She retired from her secretary position to care of her great-granddaughters. 

Gloria loved to sew and made many quilts for people over the years.  Gloria was an outstanding hostess; her home was the gathering place for family and friends.  You would never leave her home hungry.  Gloria was a prayer warrior.  Family and friends knew to turn to Gloria to ask for her to pray for them in the good and bad times of life.  Above all, Gloria was absolutely devoted to her family.  She was involved with every detail of her family’s lives; she supported, respected and loved them unconditionally. She was a woman of strong faith, believing in the power and strength of Jesus Christ’s love and the beauty and peace that would await her after her passing.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Lori Rider, Kingston, PA and Lisa Eastwood, Tunkhannock, PA; Her niece who was like a daughter to her, Sherry Eastwood, Tunkhannock, PA; Grandchildren, Theresa and Jacob Hails, Monroe Township, PA and Kaley Rider, Kingston, PA and her boyfriend Erich Olsen, Luzerne, PA; Great-Granddaughters, Reagan and Oaklyn Hails; Sisters and their husbands Lura and Al Shader, Elizabethtown, PA and Mary Louise and James Dodge, Lake Winola, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 9th, at Grace Fellowship Church, Tunkhannock, PA with Pastor Michael Conroy officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 am Monday at the church.

Friends may call on Sunday July 8, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore, PA.