Gloria Boone Kostiak, 93, of Avoca, passed away on Sunday January 21, 2024 at Hospice Of The Sacred Heart, Dunmore. She was born in Avoca and was the daughter of the late David and Catherine Allen Boone and Stanley and Mary Exeter.
Gloria was a member of Queen Of The Apostles Parish Church, Avoca. She was a graduate of Avoca High School class of 1948. As a young woman she worked at Mary’s Diner, Avoca and at the age of 79 she retired from the Pittston School District in food service. She was a proud member of the Avoca Community Choir and was very proud of her elected position as Judge Of Election second ward of the Borough of Avoca.
As the baby of a large family, Gloria was beloved and adored from her birth onward. Her gentle ways, soft voice and open heart spoke volumes about what mattered most to her: family, friends, faith and community. She was the soft place to fall as unconditional love was her true nature. A meal, a cup of tea, a hug, or a kind word were her ways of saying: "You are always welcome here. You are not alone." Her tender spirit will be missed by so many.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years Paul Gene Kostiak who died September 25th, 2015. Her great granddaughter Kyrie Klotz, brothers and sisters, infant Margaret Boone, Alice Kiesinger, David J. Boone, Betsy Nebreski, Martin Boone, John “Chick” Boone, and Mary V. George.
Gloria’s beloved extended family, with whom she was raised, is Stanley Exeter, Celestine Popple, Cecilia Exeter, Allen Exeter, Ann Joy Markowski and Rita Allen Gedrich all of whom are deceased. Surviving members of the Exeter family are Theresa James.
She is survived by her children, Ann Shaffer and her husband Gary, of Avoca, Paul, of Scranton, John “Jack”, of Avoca and Cathy Jasnoski, of Old Forge. Her grandchildren; Lee Shaffer (Desiree), Julie Klotz (James), Adam Shaffer, Matthew Kostiak (Girlane), Sarah Parlopiano (Brandon), John Kostiak (Ashley), Maurita Yevonishon, Agnes Kostiak, and Mia Nardone. Also surviving are her great grandchildren, Adrianna, Katie and James Klotz, Maiya and Mathias Kostiak Leo Parlopiano; Maurita and John Kostiak, her daughter-in-laws Donna Kurzweil and Victoria Polito and numerous nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 10:00am at Queen Of The Apostles Parish Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Avoca with Fr. Phillip Sladicka officiating.
Friends may call for visitation on Friday evening January 26th from 4pm-7pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc. 255 McAlpine St. Duryea. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church for the mass on Saturday morning, ther will be no procession. Interment will be held at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow.