Ronald “Rony” Roberts

Ronald “Rony” Roberts, 63, of Avoca passed away on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. Born in Avoca on April 24, 1957, he was the son of the late George Roberts and Betty (Smith) Brown.

Rony was a member of St. John’s Primitive Methodist Church, Avoca, and was a 1975 graduate of Pittston Area High School and Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech. A self-employed automotive mechanic, Rony worked on all types of vehicles out of his shop “Ron’s Auto” from 1983 to 2010. He also worked as a mechanic at Nardone Brothers Pizza, Hanover Township, from where he retired. He was a member of the West Side Social Club, Avoca.

Rony was not only a gifted and talented mechanic, but he had a passion for the preservation and restoration of classic British cars. His work was first-rate, and he was highly sought after and deeply respected. He was a member of the British Car Club of NEPA, the North American MGA Registry and the North American MGB Registry.

Rony’s family saw him as both a rock, creating great stability, and the glue, holding it all together. He was known as someone who would do anything to help, especially for those he loved and cared for. He will be dearly missed.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Robert Roberts.

Rony is survived by his wife of 13 years, Lisa (Lees)

Roberts; three sons, Graham Briggs and his wife Sheila

of Natick, MA; Ronald “Rony” Roberts and his fiancée Katelyn Yanora of Wyoming; Ryan Roberts and his wife Dana of Duryea; and one stepdaughter, Francesca Callahan and her husband Mark of Pittston. Also surviving are his nine grandchildren, with one on the way; two grand-dogs, Mercy and Arti; his siblings, Georgia Narsavage and her husband Peter of Allentown; Betty Jo Knauff and her husband Stanley of Pace FL; George “Buz” Roberts and his wife Linda of Wooster OH; Charles “Chuck” Roberts and his wife Donna of Pittsburgh PA; and Maureen Zukosky and her husband Carl of Levittown PA; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 7:30 pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc., 255 McAlpine Street, Duryea with Pastor Guy Giordano of the Slocum Chapel, Exeter, officiating. A walk-thru viewing will be held from 5:00 pm until the time of the service. If attending the service, please be mindful that the funeral home has a limited seating capacity. Also, facial masks and safe social distancing are mandatory, per CDC regulations.

In remembrance of Rony’s life, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity, or to SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

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