JoAnn C. Lyons, of Duryea, passed away on Saturday October 29th at Geisinger Hospital, Danville. She was born in Avoca, July 10th, 1941 and was the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Mary D. (Gilroy) Gilvary.
JoAnn was a member of Queen of the Apostles Parish Church, Avoca. She attended St. Mary’s School and was a graduate of Avoca High School. JoAnn was employed by several different companies over the years, most notably the 1980 Census Bureau, Wyoming Valley Motors and she retired from the J.C. Penny Customer Service Center. JoAnn was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter, JoAnn Whalen; her first husband, James Whalen; and her brothers, Martin, John, and Patrick Gilvary.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles Lyons; her children, Catherine Whalen of Sacramento, CA., William Whalen and his wife, Connie of Granite Bay, CA., Michele Kostoff and her husband, Terry of Moosic, and Charles Lyons Jr. of Avoca. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Hanna and Taylor Whalen and Lexi and Richie Kostoff; her sisters, Ellen Gilhooley and her husband, James of Avoca, Catherine Ann Gilvary of Scranton, Mary Gloria Gilvary of Avoca and Pauline Craig and her husband, Jack of Harrisburg and many nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, November 12th at 10:00am at Queen of the Apostles Church, Hawthorne St., Avoca with Fr. Phillip Sladicka officiating. Friends may call for visitation on Friday, November 11th evening from 5pm to 8pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Avoca.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o Sisters of the IHM Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18509.