Mario J. Santilli

Mario J. Santilli, 60, of Pottsville, was lifted up to God on Wednesday evening December 22, 2010 at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.Mario J. Santilli, 60, of Pottsville, was lifted up to God on Wednesday evening at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.

Born in Pottsville, May 24, 1950, he was a son of the late William A. and Marion Tassone Santilli.

He was a graduate of Pottsville Area High School and then went to Penn State, where he received an associate degree in accounting.
Mario worked in the pre-press department for The Republican-Herald for 32 years, retiring in 2002.
He was a member of the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, both of Pottsville.
He was a social member of the American Legion Post 544, Minersville, and Good Intent Fire Company, Pottsville, and a member of the Schuylkill County Pool League. He was also an avid golfer.

Surviving are a brother, Joseph A. Santilli, Pottsville; and a goddaughter, Jayda Fisher, Philadelphia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, with the Rev. Edward B. Connolly as the celebrant. A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday evening at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, and on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the procession departs from the funeral home for the church. Interment will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Mario's memory be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852-9813. Lord-Bixler Funeral Home Inc., Pottsville, is in charge of arrangements.

Published in Republican & Herald on December 24, 2010

*incorrectly identified in the newspaper as Pottsville Area High School.

Mario was musically talented and a kind soul. Requiesce in pace

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Father McKenna

I wonder where is he now? Well, wonder no more!

According to the Allentown Diocese newspaper, the Rev. F. Charles McKenna II, is a retired priest in residence at Holy Family Villa for Priest, Bethlehem, who recently celebrated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood May 13, 2010 with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a dinner at the villa.

Fr. McKenna was born July 27, 1934 in Allentown, son of the late Frances Charles and Ouida M (Petit) McKenna. He attended 13th and Union School, Northeast Junior High School and Reading Central Catholic High School, all in Reading. He received his bachelor of arts degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia in 1956. He also studied at Villanova, Penn State and Temple Universities. He was ordained May 14, 1960 at the Catheldral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul, Philadelphia by the Most Rev. J. Carroll McCormick, DD. He celebrated his first mass the next day at St. Joseph, Reading. He taught at Nativity 1964-1966 with residence at Mary Queen of Peace, Pottsville. He then taught at Marian High School...

Some memorable events of the era 1964-1966 include:

1964: TV Quiz show Jeopardy! premiered with Art Fleming as the host.

1965: "What's New Pussycat" sung by Tom Jones reaches Number 3 on the Billboard charts.
1966: All U.S. cigarette packs have to carry "Caution Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health."

John Liebner

John J. Liebner

John J. Liebner, 59, of Pottsville, passed away Wednesday evening (March 25, 2010) at ManorCare Health Services, Pottsville.
Born in Pottsville, Aug. 1, 1950, he was a son of the late Fred J. and Anna Marie McMurtrie Liebner.
He was a 1968 graduate of Nativity BVM High School and a veteran of the Vietnam era, serving in the Air Force. He was employed by Eastern Press, Pottsville.
He was a member of St. Patrick Church, Pottsville.
On June 26, 1982, he married the former Barbara Purcell, Pottsville.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by a brother, the Rev. David Liebner.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 27 years, Barbara, are two daughters, Teresa and Beth Liebner, both of Pottsville; two brothers, Fred and his wife, Ann Marie Liebner, Pine Grove, and Mark and his wife, Karen Liebner, Port Carbon; three sisters, Mary and her husband, Charles Cagle, Lake Wynonah, Anne and her husband, Michael Liptock, Pottsville, and Jane and her husband, David Wallner, Exeter Township; nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick Church, Fourth and Mahantongo streets, Pottsville. Family and friends may call at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in John's name to All Saints Catholic School, Seventh and Mahantongo streets, Pottsville, PA 17901. Your condolences for John's family can be left online by visiting http://www.bestlifetributes.com/.

Requiescat in pace

nativity1968 blogspot: the movie

I have run out of material. The blog will go dormant for now. Enjoy the movie version that was created over the weekend. It received a G rating as well as A-I from the National League of Decency (morally unobjectionable for all). It is not in 3-D so put away those glasses.

freshmen math & tv tribute

Sister Florence

Twenty years ago---January 30, 1990

Sister M. Florence, 68, of the Missionary Sisters of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, who resided in the motherhouse of St. Michael's Convent, Hyde Park, Reading died Tuesday January 30, 1990 in the afternoon in Sacred Heart Hospital, Norristown, where she had been a patient for six weeks.

She was born in Coplay, a daughter of the late Charles and Katherine Buscolits Walakovits.

After entering the order in 1939, she taught in parochial school elementary schools in Palmerton, Nazareth, Philadelphia and Coopersburg for eight years. She taught five years at Little Flower Catholic High School for girls, Philadelphia, and eighteen years at Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville.

She was a receptionist at Sacred Heart Hospital for 12 years until she was assigned to the motherhouse in 1987 as convent librarian.

She was survived by two brothers and six sisters.

Internment was at the Convent cemetery.