Joseph J. Skunda (age 97)

[Pompeii]

Joseph J. Skunda, 97, of Brockway, PA, formerly of DuBois, died peacefully April 22, 2021 at home. 

Born November 29, 1923 in DuBois, PA, Joseph was a son of the late Dominic J. and Stella M. (Reclite) Skunda; He was a proud American who still honored his Lithuanian heritage.

Joe graduated from high school in 1941 and served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he returned home and worked for the B & O Railroad as a foreman for over 30 years.

He was the loving husband of the late Patricia M. (Reams) Skunda whom he married on July 3,1948.  she preceded him in death on July 6, 2009.

Joe was a devout Roman Catholic and served as an usher at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in DuBois. He and his wife prayed the rosary together daily. 

As a young man, he sang in the men’s church choir and played baseball in the church league. He also served as a volunteer fire fighter and was a life member of DuBois Fire Department’s Goodwill Hose Company #5, and was a member of the former Lithuanian Independence Club.

Joe was a kind, generous and thoughtful man, who took care of his ailing wife until her death in 2009. He was the best dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather in the world. He loved gardening, playing rummy, and talking to everyone he met in the store. His friendly demeanor brightened the day and he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his four children, Douglas Skunda and his wife, Cathy, of Indiana, PA; Deborah Berlin and her husband, Robert, of Brockway, PA with whom he resided; Gregory Skunda and his wife, Sue, of DuBois, PA; and Kristine Porter and her husband, Michael, of Easton, PA; nine grandchildren, Kimberly Riffer, Ryan Skunda, Karli Puhala, Michael Skunda, Julia Bernardi, Joseph E. Skunda, Alexander Porter, Nicholas Porter and Matthew Porter; ten great-grandchildren, Braden and Evan Riffer, Zoe Moore and Kait Puhala, Joshua Skunda, Raine and Dean Skunda, Scarlett Bernardi, and Rose and Lily Porter ; his sister, Rosemary Brinton; and many nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Dominic, Albert and Michael Skunda, and sisters, Estelle Rokoski and Genevieve Morris.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.  Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 10 a.m. from St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant.

Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded by the members of the DuBois Area Honor Guard.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Church, 15 Robinson Street, DuBois, PA 15801, the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 98018, Washington, DC 20090-8018, or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences can be sent to http://baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence