Mary Waverka, 93, of Hershey, passed away on June 23, 2021 in the Masonic Healthcare Center in Elizabethtown. She was born October 29, 1927 in Towanda, daughter of the late John and Mildred (Esterbrook) Morrow.

Mary was a graduate of Bloomsburg University and was a member of Alpha PSI Omega. She was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and sang in the choir. She devoted most of her life to raising her family. She enjoyed volunteering at the Hershey Medical Center and was an usher at the Hershey Theater for 30 years.

Mary is survived by children, James (Joni); Michael (Melissa); David (Jean); Linda Waverka and John (Pamela); 10 grandchildren, Kristin; Rachael; Emily; John; Grace; Allyson; Anna; John Andrew; Jennifer; Michael John and 6 great-grandchildren, Brooklyn; Barrett; Brayden; Myla; Matthew; Emma; and 2 sisters-in-law, Ann Hagerty; Rosemary Long; several Nieces, Nephews and many good friends who enriched her life.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, John W. Waverka, her sisters Marian Lentz and Dorothea Benson.
A visitation will be held Monday, June 28, 2021 from 5 - 7PM with recitation of the rosary beginning at 4:45pm in the Hoover Funeral Home & Crematory in Hershey. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 11AM in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey. Interment will follow in the Hershey Cemetery.

​In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church or the Multiple Sclerosis Society, NJ Metro Chapter, 1480 US Hwy. 9N #309, Woodbridge, NJ 07905.

​Helen T. Nojack Olaf, 90, of Hummelstown, passed away Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Atlas, Pennsylvania, on March 1, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Horwath Nojack.

Helen retired from Reese’s. She graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1948. Helen was an active member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Hershey. She belonged to the CCW and AREBA’s organization, and enjoyed baking many tasty treats for the Annual Festival. Helen enjoyed attending church daily, volunteering in the St. Joan of Arc cafeteria, and baking for friends and family.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent C. Olaf, on November 29, 2004.

Helen is survived by three children, Joyce M. Zeppa-Sadler wife of Bob of Biglerville, Tina Marie Olaf-Lerch wife of Edward R. of Hummelstown, and Vincent A. Olaf of Hummelstown; her grandchildren, Jonathan and Janessa Zeppa; and her great-grandson, Alex Vea.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 2:00 PM in St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Avenue, Hershey, with The Rev. Fr. Alfred P. Sceski as celebrant. Inurnment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at a later date. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Tuesday in the church from 1PM until time of the services.

Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 W. Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent Heart of the Parish fund at St. Joan of Arc, 359 West Areba Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033, or to Alzheimer Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17011 (https://www.alz.org/pa), or to Grane Hopsice, 1200 Camp Hill Bypass, Suite 205, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

​Edward S. Smilak, 89, formerly of Hershey and Beaver Falls peacefully passed away May 23, 2021. He was born October 23, 1931 in Beaver Falls, a son of the late Stephen and Margaret (Vekasy) Smilak.
 
Edward served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 and was stationed in Okinawa. He graduated from Geneva College with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. He also was a multi-sport collegiate athlete as well. Edward was employed by General Refractories. He was a real estate agent for Moore,McLane, Nalley & Schumaker/Prudential Real Estate. He was a Council Member of Wernesville Borough. He was a member and Vice President of the Phoenixville Jaycees, active at St. Francis DeSales in Berks County. He later became member of St. Joan of Arc Church in Hershey. He was an avid sports fan, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 
Edward’s wife Ann (Howe) Smilak passed away on December 11, 2020. He is survived by his children, Cynthia Clark and husband Mark Clark of Chester Springs, Robert Smilak of Hummelstown, and Julie Scheib and husband Randy Scheib of Hershey.
 
He was the devoted grandfather of Alaina Clark of West Chester, Dr. Gregory Clark and his wife Caymee Wood of NYC, Andrew Smilak and his wife Katie Smilak of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Stephen Smilak of Boston, Amy Smilak of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Jessica Scheib of Hershey, Nicholas Scheib of Philadelphia and Patrick Scheib of Hershey. Also surviving are his four siblings; Margaret McDade of Meadville, Irene Roscoe of Monaca, Barbara Rhymer of Winston-Salem, NC and Bernard Smilak of Beaver Falls.
 
A funeral mass to celebrate the lives of Edward and Ann will be held on Thursday, May 27 at 11 a.m. in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Hershey.There will be no viewing or visitation prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Share condolences at www.hooverfuneralhome.com

Roger Warren Burns, 77, of Hummelstown, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2021 in the Hershey Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born December 22, 1943 in Binghamton, NY, son of the late Warren and Helen (O'Toole) Burns.
Roger was a proud graduate of Villanova University, and had worked many years as a CPA and CFO in the health care industry until most recently retiring from Keystone Human Services.  He was a U.S. Army reservist and was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.  His proudest accomplishment and joy are his marriage to Karen for nearly 54 years and his five children, their families and grandchildren.

Roger is survived by his wife, Karen (Beale) Burns; daughters, Susan Pullen, Deborah Bott, Margaret McCaffrey, Rebecca Brossman; son, Edward Burns; brother, Gene Burns; sister, Kathy Burns-Power; and 11 grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two of his siblings; Sister Cordis Marie Burns and Chris Burns.
A visitation will be held on Monday, May 17, from 5-7 PM in the Hoover Funeral Home & Crematory, 88 Lucy Ave, Hershey.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 18, at 11AM in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.  Interment will follow in the Hershey Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to: Keystone Human Services 4391 Sturbridge Dr., Harrisburg, PA, 17110,  www.khs.org/get-involved/donate

​Gail Ann Owens, 75, of Hummelstown, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2021, in the Hershey Medical Center with the love of her heart and soul, Bob, by her side. They spent 40 years together, yet far from long enough.

Gail worked and retired from the State. She went to Lower Dauphin Schools. Gail was very empathetic to all, especially children.

In addition to her life companion, Bob, Gail leaves behind two beautiful children, Keather and Frank; a sister Elaine; a brother, Fred; and many grandchildren.

She was the daughter of the late Fred and Helen Owens. Her girlfriend, Donna, passed away on April 26th.

Gail’s last wish was to die at home. Bob tried unsuccessfully to make that happen, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 11 AM in St. Catherine Laboure Parish, 4000 Derry Street, Harrisburg, with The Rev. Fr. Alfred P. Sceski of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church as celebrant. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Harrisburg.

Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc, 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the arrangements.

Joan Marie Spandra, 63, of Hummelstown, PA passed away at home on May 9th, 2021 surrounded by family.

Joan was born in Chester county, PA and was the daughter of Rosemary & Leo O’Brien. She graduated from Downingtown High School and attended Mansfield University. She worked at PA Association of Realtors, was then a homemaker, and finally retired from Derry Township School District as a food service worker.

Joan loved going to HersheyPark and riding the roller coasters. She loved vacationing in Ocean City, NJ, and Disney World. Some of her favorite hobbies were cooking and baking. She most loved spending time with her beloved husband Joe, and the rest of her family. She was a deeply religious, selfless person who always cared for the needs of others.   
​
Joan is survived by Joe, her husband of 35 years, daughters Kelly Koman (Andrew) and Katelyn Fisher (Eric), granddaughter Hannah, mother Rosemary O’Brien, sister Trish Mostyn, brother Kevin O’Brien, and six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Leo O’Brien.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 14th at 12:00 noon at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave, Hershey, PA 17033. Visitation will be held at the church from 11am until time of mass. Burial will be held immediately following the Mass at the Hershey Cemetery. Joan fought metastatic breast cancer for 10 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to METAvivor, https://www.metavivor.org/

​ 
Patrick J. Pronio, 58, of York, formerly of Hershey, passed away on April 12, 2021.

He was born September 15, 1962 in Hershey to Vincent and Veronica "Ronnie" (Prang) Pronio.

Growing up, Pat had worked at his family’s grocery store, Pronio's Market; he graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School and St. Joseph's University and had worked at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Patrick is survived by his mother, Ronnie Pronio; wife, Marianne (Verbos) Pronio; son, Astin (wife, Kerry) Pronio; grandson, Nolan Patrick Pronio; sisters, Paula and Lorna Pronio; brother, Michael (wife, MaryJo) Pronio.

He was preceded in death by his father, Vincent A. Pronio.

A visitation will be held in the Hoover Funeral Home, 88 Lucy Ave., Hershey on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10:30 - 12:30PM.  Funeral Mass will follow at 1 PM in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.  Interment will be in the Hershey Cemetery.  Those attending are asked to follow COVID19 guidelines, masks are required.

​Send condolences via the online guest book at www.hooverfuneralhome.com

​Helen A. Mazziotta, 89, formerly of New York and Arizona, passed away on February 23, 2021 in Vancouver, WA. She was born May 9, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY and retired from IBM as a data processor. She is survived by her children, Barbara (Bernie) Falk, Tom Nielson, Dan Nielson and Karen Nielson; 3 grandchildren and 3 great grand children. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Thursday, April 8th in the St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church in Hershey. Inurnment will be in Hershey Cemetery. Share condolences at www.hooverfuneralhome.com

​Shirley J. Powell, 80, of Harrisburg passed away Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at her home. Born in Beavertown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Catherine (Sassaman) Hendricks. She was the wife of Donald P. Powell with whom she shared over 61 years of marriage. She worked as a volunteer librarian for over 40 years with St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Hershey. Shirley was an avid reader, loved going to flea markets and shopping, baking, and crocheting. She was preceded in death by her infant daughters, Carla and Susan Powell. Survived by her children: Donald Powell Jr., Linda Beachel wife of Timothy, Jennifer Engle wife of Timothy, and Christopher Powell. Also surviving are 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; sister, Beatrice Reichenbach and brother, Robert C. Hendricks husband of Betsy. In keeping with Shirley's wishes there will be no formal service.

Andy went to be with the Lord peacefully on March 24, 2021, at 11:55 pm. His family was with him daily during his faithful Christian departure from this earth.  Andy was born on April 8,1929 in Hazlebrook, Luzerne County, PA, a son of the late John and Mary (Sisock) Hricak, He was also preceded to heaven by his seven brothers Tommy, Johnny, Steve, Joe, Mike, Bernie, and Billy. He is survived by his devoted wife of 67 years Yvonne (Magrini); his children Jim, Jay, and Judy; and grandchildren Evan and Gretchen.

Andy spent his life proudly serving the country he loved while selflessly providing for his family. He enlisted in the United States Air Force at 18 years old, where he became a decorated Veteran. His 40 years of military service were a great source of pride for Andy and his family. He played a role in multiple global conflicts as a member of the U.S. Air Force and as a senior master sergeant and loadmaster with the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, logging more than 6,885 flight hours, and as a civilian member of Navy support operations. Even after he retired from this storied career, he volunteered in the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Emergency Department from 1996 until 2020. Life was not easy for Andy growing up as one of eight brothers during the Great Depression, but his faith in God taught and learned from his mom Mary served him well his entire life.
​
Andy was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church for over 60 years, where he served as an usher for many of those years. Andy devoted his entire life to serving family, country, and community and is an example for all of us of a life well-lived. Even in his final act, he cemented together the family he loved so much. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his church. Private interment with military honors will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Joan of Arc Church, Centennial Project, 305 West Areba Avenue Hershey PA 17033.