Loretta “Retta” Richel Boyko, 81, of Macungie, PA passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at the Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital, Allentown. She was born in Avoca, August 18, 1939 and was the daughter of the late John and Catherine (Piskur) Richel.
Loretta was a member of St. Ann’s Church, Emmaus, PA. She was a 1957 graduate of Avoca High School and a graduate of the Scranton State School of Nursing where she graduated as a registered nurse. She worked for 25 years for Dr. Gerald Backenstoe as a RN and office manager and retired from the Cedar Brook Nursing Home, Allentown.
Loretta was the National Financial Auditor for the First Slovak Wreath of the Free Eagle and a former member of the Dorneyville Lioness Club. She and her husband Michael worked as volunteers for many years for Meals on Wheels and she was a PIAA swim official for several years. Loretta loved to travel; she and her family traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, great-aunt and friend and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings; “Fatty”-Adam, “Kid”-Johnny, “Goike”-George, “Yike”-Frank, “Annie”- Anna Richel, “Dusha”- Josephine Mokay, “Weisha”-Louise Witowski, “Honey”- Teresa Ferack, Helen Mazur, and Dorothy “Dort” Richel.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Michael Boyko; her sons Michael T. Boyko, of Macungie and David J. Boyko, of Allentown; grandchildren, Michael, Arianna, Nicole, Nicholas, and David; great-grandchildren Nason, Dakota, Vayda and Finley. Also surviving are her sister Christine Rodgers, of Avoca and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104
A mass of Christian burial will be privately held at Queen of The Apostles Parish Church, Avoca. Private interment services will be held at SS Peter and Paul Cemetery, Avoca.
Arrangements are made by Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea.