PRISCILLA KURLANCHEEK

Priscilla Kurlancheek died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Tiffany Court in Edwardsville, Pa. at the age of 99.

Born October 6, 1914, in Scranton, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Herman and Rose Solomon Judd. Benjamin Kurlancheek, her husband of almost 50 years, predeceased her in 1983. After attending Beaver College, she married Ben in 1937 and became an active participant with him at Kurlancheek Furniture in Duryea for over 40 years.

In addition to being a loving and devoted mother to their four children, Priscilla was a successful business woman. Ahead of her time, she embodied personal customer service that created long term relationships with Kurlancheek Furniture. Originated in 1898 by Jacob Kurlancheek, Ben's father, it continues today in Wilkes-Barre under the leadership of her daughter Ronne.

As a grandmother and great-grandmother, she created wonderful memories of weekly family dinners, game playing and joyful babysitting. After retiring from the furniture business, Priscilla directed her energy and enthusiasm to learning and mastering duplicate bridge, ballroom dancing, bowling and always loving and playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Priscilla is survived by her children: Barbara Shaffer and her husband Attorney Charles Shaffer of Kingston, Pa.; Lynn Gonchar and her husband Leonard Gonchar of Kingston, Pa.; Paul Kurlancheek and his wife, Yhing Jaer of Akron, Pa. and Thailand; Ronne Kurlancheek and her husband Joel Zitofsky of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and daughter-in-law Mary Lou Spina of Idetown, Pa. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jonathan Shaffer, his wife Robin and their son Daniel of Tysons Corner, Va.; Ilizabeth Gonchar Hempstead and her children, Augustus and Isaac of Maplewood, N.J.; Susan Shaffer of Burlington, Vt.; Michael Gonchar, his wife Allison Kwait and their son, Benjamin of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Jesse Kurlancheek of Boston, Ma.; and Kris Kurlancheek of Akron, Pa.

Funeral service will be conducted at the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, 348 S. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 11:30 am.

Shiva will be observed Sunday from 7 to 9 pm, Monday and Tuesday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 at Lynn and Leonard Gonchar's home, 643 Ford Ave., Kingston.

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