Elaine D. Jurgill

Elaine D. (Horoschak) Jurgill, 90, peacefully died at home, surrounded by family.

She was born August 5, 1932, to Walter and Catherine (Murray) Horoschak of Coal Run. She attended one year of grade school in Coal Run, followed by the remainder at St. Anthony’s Grade School in Ranshaw. She graduated from Coal Township High School in 1950.

After meeting at a dance at Washington Hall in Kulpmont and dating for a year, Elaine married Leon C Jurgill of Centralia in April 1955 at St. Anthony’s Church, Ranshaw, officiated by Msgr Thomas Bartol. After living in Shamokin for a short time, they eventually established a home in Centralia in late 1956, raising seven children. Due to the Centralia mine fire, they relocated to Wilburton in 1987. Elaine dedicated her life to caring for her husband and children which was no small chore, whether tending to scraped knees, empty bellies, or her children’s education and spiritual health. She will always be remembered in her apron, tending to loved ones at holiday dinners and other family celebrations.

Faith was always at the center of Elaine’s life. She served as lector and CCD instructor at St. Ignatius Church, Centralia, and a Eucharistic Minister at Divine Redeemer Church in Mt. Carmel. She held many offices in the Council of Catholic Women (CCW) and was head of the Altar Rosary Society. She was well known for ‘selling chances’ at numerous area locations, first for the Carmelite Nuns as a lay member of the Carmelite Third Order, and later for her parish. She was also very active in the pro-life movement, including as a volunteer for Birthright in her younger years. Elaine spent countless hours cleaning the church, helping with spaghetti dinners, making her famous homemade pigeons (halupki) for picnics, or organizing the annual clergy appreciation dinner. She modeled how to “love thy neighbor as thyself” every day, frequently caring for the needs of several elderly neighbors and church friends well into her 80s.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Leon, who passed in 2021, a brother Walter Horoschak of Union Deposit, and sisters Patricia Kinder of Nanticoke and Elizabeth (Betty) Shedleski of Kulpmont.

She is survived by sisters, June Cale of Middletown PA, and Sylvia Breakey of Flagstaff AZ, as well as her sons Daniel of Elysburg, Leon Jr. and James of Wilburton, daughters Elaine Rompolski of Numidia, Catherine (Donald) Czarneski of Ft. Pierce FL, Susan (Michael) Fletcher of Kulpmont, and Mary (James) Ray of Iowa City IA, 11 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Divine Redeemer Church with the Rev. Bernard Wamayose A. J., Pastor as celebrant. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Ralpho Township. A viewing will be held Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. at the Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home 40 South Market St. Mt. Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz, III Supervisor. In lieu of flowers, please offer masses for Elaine at any Catholic Church or provide a donation to Divine Redeemer Church 438 West Avenue Mt. Carmel, Pa. 17851