JEAN B. (BLOOM) GONCHAR

Jeanette “Jean” Gonchar (née Bloom), 92, died surrounded by her family on February 16, 2019, at her home in Kingston. She will be remembered for her compassion, sense of humor, and elegance.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, the youngest of four children, and the only daughter of Bessie and Joseph Bloom, Jean earned a BA in sociology from Drew University, taught sociology at Penn State’s Hazelton campus, and worked as an executive for the Women’s Service Group of the Jewish Community Council of Essex County. Jean supported many charitable and community organizations, such as the United Jewish Appeal, Hadassah, and Wyoming Seminary. She served on the boards of non-profits, including the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Saint Michael’s School for Boys.

She is survived by her husband of almost 57 years, Howard; her children, Ellen Horowitz and husband Sanford, Nancy, and Joann; her brother and sister-in-law Cyrus and Nan Bloom; and her grandchildren, Hannah Summerfield Gonchar, Zachary Horowitz and his wife Alison, and Andrew Horowitz and his wife Abigail Salisbury.

Jean was preceded in death by her brothers Bernie and Abe Bloom, and her first husband, Allan Leichtman. 

A funeral will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 18th at Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, 348 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Burial will take place at the Temple Israel Cemetery, Swoyersville. 

Shiva will be observed at 579 Westmoreland Ave., Kingston on Monday from 6 to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to HIAS, 1300 Spring Street, Suite 500, Silver Spring MD 20910, www.hias.org; the Family Service Association of NEPA, 31 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre PA 18701, www.fsawv.org or a charity of your choice.

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