Joseph W. Frew, 92 , of Avoca, passed away peacefully, during the evening of June 2, 2022, at Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit, Dunmore. He was surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Born November 21, 1929, in Avoca, he was the loving son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth (Sheerer) Frew. Joseph attended Saint Mary’s Grade School in Avoca and graduated from Avoca High School in 1947. He served in the Navy for one year and worked various jobs until he enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police on October 16, 1957. Joe served with the State Police for 32 years, until his mandatory retirement at 60 years old in 1989. He served at various barracks in the state, while allowing his wife, the former Barbara Lechleitner of Tower City, to raise their three daughters in his hometown of Avoca.
Joseph was a man of great Catholic faith, attending daily masses, and served as Eucharistic Minister at Saint Mary’s Church, now known as Queen of the Apostles Church. Joseph was truly thankful for
everything he had and always made a point of telling people thank you.
Joseph’s favorite hobby was walking, which he did daily, for decades. In the early years, he walked in Avoca, and later inside the Pittston Kmart, where everyone knew him. Joseph also enjoyed attending Sunday meals with his whole family and always said he would never pass up a free meal! He had a deep love of his family that evolved over his many decades of life.
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Thomas and James Frew and sister Kathleen Tippett.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, and their three loving daughters and their spouses and grandchildren; Maria and Hans Balchune, Duryea; Lisa and James Gromelski, Duryea; Jina and Peter Kohl, Mountaintop; grandchildren Krista Gromelski, Aimee Balchune, Matthew Gromelski, Brooke Blaker and her husband Joshua, Rachael and Sydney Kohl, and Morgan Gromelski; step grandchildren Sean Kohl and Annie (Brad) Strausser; and four step great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his sisters Helen Eckrote, West Avoca, and Frances Frew, Texas.
He is also survived by various nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr Gerald P. Gibbons, who along with the watchful eye of Barbara, was able to allow him to live to be 92 years old. He always followed the medical orders he was given. Also, the various nursing and medical staff that cared for him at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital throughout the years as well as Dr. Saidman and staff and the staff at John Heinz Pittston Clinic, who helped to maintain Joseph’s love of walking.
A special thank you to all staff and nursing at Hospice of the Sacred Heart. The kindness shown to Joseph and his family during the last few days of his life was amazing and made his death a peaceful one. He is now at rest and can walk in Heaven as much as he wants.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Epilepsy Foundation Eastern PA-Wilkes-Barre Office or the Medical Oncology RX Fund.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, June 8th, 2022, at 10am at Queen of the Apostles Parish Church, 715 Hawthorne St., Avoca with Fr. Phillip Sladicka and Fr. J. Duane Gavitt officiating. Friends may call on Tuesday evening from 5-8pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea. Friends are asked to go directly to the church on Wednesday morning for the mass; there will be no procession from the funeral home. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Avoca with members of the PA State Police providing honors.