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JAMES FRANCIS DONAHUE

James Francis Donahue, 77, Susquehanna, PA, passed away Tuesday, February 8, 2005 at Barnes-Kasson Hospital, Susquehanna.

He was born September 4, 1927 in Denver, CO, the son of the late Timothy E. and Bernice (Curran) Donahue.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 52 years, G. Elaine (Pultz) Donahue of Windsor, NY on January 7, 2001.

He is survived by two daughters, Laura Donahue Lucas and Suzanne Elaine Donahue of Salvisa, Kentucky.

Jim was a 1945 graduate of Laurel Hill Academy of Susquehanna. He served in the US Navy in Japan from 1945 to 1946. He was retired from the Erie/ConRail Railroads as an engineer in 1982. He was a member of St. John’s Church, Susquehanna, and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 86, Susquehanna.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, February 12 at Hennessey’s Funeral Home, Susquehanna, and at St. John’s Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial was offered by the Rev. Robert Simon. Burial, St. John’s Cemetery, Susquehanna.

KENNETH L. RIVENBURG, SR.

Kenneth Lee Rivenburg, Sr., 86, Kingsley, died Saturday, February 12, 2005 at the Meadow View Senior Living Center, Montrose. His wife is the former Mary Summers. They had been married for 36 years.

Born in Carbondale, he was the son of the late Levi and Elizabeth Lee Rivenburg. He was a 1935 graduate of the Greenfield High School; he was valedictorian of his class. He retired from PENNDOT after 21 years as assistant superintendent for the Montrose/Susquehanna County area. He had also worked for Keeler Stone and Gravel in Lenoxville.

He was a member of the First Universalist Church, Brooklyn. He was a 56-year member of the Mount Herman Masonic Lodge 472, Union Dale. He was also a charter member of the Clifford Volunteer Fire Company. He was the Republican Committeeman for Clifford Township for many years.

Ken and his wife, Mary, operated Rivenburg Summer Kitchen Antiques at the Harford Fair for twenty years. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and gardener. He loved auctions, his winter home in Florida, and his home in Canada. He has friends all over the United States. He was a wonderful husband, father, and family man, and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by five sons, Lee and wife, Karen, Brooklyn, Lynn, Severn, MD, Mark and wife, Ann, West Palm Beach, FL, William, Factoryville, Kenneth, Jr. and wife, Marcella, Hop Bottom; two daughters, Ruth Rivenburg, Scranton, Shirley Coshatt and husband, Dan, Panama City, FL; eighteen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; nieces, nephews.

He was predeceased by three brothers, Frank, Harry, and James.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, February 16, 10:00 a.m. at the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State St., Nicholson, with services by Rev. Ralph Christianson, Pastor of the First Universalist Church, Brooklyn. Interment, Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to The Danielle House, P.O. Box 65, Binghamton, NY 13903; or The First Universalist Church of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, PA 18813.

VIOLET CHOPLOSKY

Violet Choplosky, 78, a guest of the Beverly Health Care Center, Tunkhannock, formerly of Hop Bottom, died Saturday, February 12, 2005 at Tyler Memorial Hospital. Her husband, Algerd Choplosky, died in 1996.

Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Marcella Goditis Pastore. Prior to retirement she was a farm wife on the family dairy farm and was a stone quarry operator for many years. She was one of the first women in the United States and the first woman in Pennsylvania to receive a blasting license.

She loved gardening, wildlife, and the great outdoors. She loved her grandchildren and family. She will be greatly missed.

Surviving are four sons, Algerd, Choconut, John, William, and Frank, all of Brooklyn; three daughters, Valerie Goodspeed, Windsor, NY, Sharon Flynn, Scranton, Marcella Rivenburg, Hop Bottom; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a son, Charles.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 16, 2:00 p.m. at the Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State St., Nicholson, with services by Rev. Ralph Christianson, Pastor of The First Universalist Church, Brooklyn. Interment, Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, at a later date.

SISTER M. BERNARDINE RINKAVAGE, IHM

Sister M. Bernardine Rinkavage of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died Tuesday, February 8, 2005, at the Marian Convent.

Born March 7, 1914 in Susquehanna, daughter of the late Bernard and Agnes Bocianski Rinkavage, she entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1932. She made her temporary profession of vows April 30, 1935, and her final profession of vows August 1, 1938. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin from Marywood College and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Villanova University.

She served as a teacher at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Elementary School, Dunmore, 1935 to 1940; St. Leo High School, Ashley, 1952 to 1956; St. John’s High School, Pittston, 1956 to 1966; South Catholic High School, Scranton, 1966 to 1967; and Bishop Hannan High School, 1980 to 1993. She also served at schools in Pittsburgh, La Plata, MD, Providence, RI, Manhasset, NY and Uniondale, NY. Sister M. Bernardine served as a prayer minister while residing at Cathedral Convent in Scranton from 1993 to 2001. From 2001 until her death, she served as prayer minister at the Marian Convent.

Surviving are a brother, Neil, Sebastian, FL; a sister, Frances Hoban, Apache Junction, AZ; nieces, nephews; grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

She was predeceased by two sisters, Teresa Desnoyers, Genevieve Jaxheimer.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters, c/o the IHM Building Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.

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