Anna (Cebrick) Stesney

April 19, 2005

Anna Stesney, 87, of Swoyersville, passed away Tuesday evening at the Hospice Care of the VNA, Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre. Born and raised in Swoyersville, she lived there all of her life. She attended Swoyersville schools. She was the daughter of the late Wasil and Anastasia Habowska Cebrick. In her earlier years, Mrs. Stesney worked for the former General Cigar, Forty Fort. She also worked in various dress factories throughout her life, eventually retiring from the former Lorrie Lee Dress Company, Wilkes-Barre. She was a member of Holy Name/St. Mary’s Parish Community, Swoyersville. Mrs. Stesney was preceded in death by her husband, Frank J. Stesney, who died on Sept. 11, 1996; a sister, Christine Staskiewicz; and brothers, Thomas, Stephen, John, Charles, and Michael Cebrick. Surviving are a daughter, Linda A., wife of Marun Jazbik Filho, New York, New York; grandchildren, Mark Jazbik and Bia Jazbik; brothers, Andrew Henry Cebrick and Paul Cebrick, both of Swoyersville; sisters, Mary Sobeck, Edwardsville; Rose Stankiewicz and Louise Stacy, both of Mountainside, New Jersey; nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Holy Name/St. Mary’s Church, 283 Shoemaker Street, Swoyersville, with the Reverend Louis Grippe officiating. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, Kingston Township. Friends may call on Friday evening from 6 to 9 at the funeral home. Those desiring, may send memorial contributions in Anna’s memory to Hospice Care of the VNA, Inpatient Unit, Heritage House, 80 East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 18701. Eulogy read at Auntie Anna’s funeral mass 4-23-05 In reading an obituary that an 87-year old woman passed, one would think, that woman lived a long life. And indeed, Aunt Annie did live a long life, but for those of us who were luckily enough to share in her life, we know that this passing, is not simply a passing of an 87-year old female who lived a long life. This passing is so much more. Not only was she first and foremost a mother and grandmother, she was a sister, an aunt, a friend and for me, she was my Godmother, but for this family, she was the Matriarch. In her quiet yet strong way, she provided so much, to so many us. From the very beginning, Auntie Anna put herself aside for others. For example: As a young girl, she worked at Berintinni’s store and it was there that she learned to cook and bake. And we all know that Auntie Anna was a great cook and baker too. She made the tasty chicken and the most delicious bread and her pirohy and potato pancakes were the simply the best. She had a knack for preparing really good food and it was always a treat to have dinner at her home. While working at Berintinni’s she earned money for the family by working in the store and caring for their two small children. It came to be that she then lived with the Berintinni’s, to make room in the homestead for the other children. Imagine she left her own home, for more than 15 years so her younger siblings would have more living space. The money she earned at an early age was directed back to the family. She made sure that the younger siblings had regular dental visits and good shoes to wear and at Christmastime, she made sure that the younger children all had gifts under the tree to open on Christmas morning. When my parents were engaged to be married, Auntie Anna and Uncle Frank were also engaged and Auntie Anna told my mom – “Dee, You and Henry go ahead and get married first, Frank and I, we’ll wait”. After Adam was born and Andrea was to return to work, Auntie Annie offered selflessly to watch Adam, as just a few months prior, she retired and my mom and dad were still working. The stipulation was that instead of paying Auntie Anna to watch Adam, Andrea and Jeff were to open an account for him and place money his account weekly. These are just a few of the many examples that I am reminded of regarding her wisdom and character. She just didn’t want to put anyone out and with that you couldn’t do much of anything for her, but instead wanted to give all she had and put the family first. When it came to anyone else, she wanted the best. It simply was her way. At one point, Auntie Anna wondered, if I would ever marry. And she wanted to purchase pots and pans for me, so about 5 years before I married, Auntie Anna had the entire set of Faberware pots and pans purchased and placed in my bedroom closet at my parents. She was so pleased when I finally did marry. Christmastime and Eastertime as special as these times are, were always made extra special with Auntie Anna and my dad heading up the kielbasi project in her home with my mom, Uncle Frank, Uncle Paul, Aunt Mary and Jeff. And they made enough kielbasi, often, totaling more than 200 pounds for the entire family to enjoy. She made sure everyone was included. With all the meals shared, if supper was at Auntie Anna’s house and there were many, she just wanted everyone to sit and relax as she scurried to clean up after dinner. But when dinner was in your home, she was always the first one to start the clean up, letting everyone else sit and relax. If you ever observed her in a crowd, she was quiet and listened, yet spoke with great conviction. I can remember as a little girl often going over to Auntie Anna’s house and she and my dad talking passionately about politics. She had strong convictions and when the time was right, she let them be heard. I, like many of us here, have good memories of her, because she was simply so good. She taught me how to sew, bought me my first pair of jeans, made my first communion dress and my Swoyersville Sailors cheerleading uniform. I have a vivid memory of standing in her basement with my mom and dad as we were ironing the words onto my uniform and I was so happy to have this brand uniform that she made. She was quite a seamstress. There was nothing she couldn’t fix with a needle and some thread. If ever something needed a stitch or a hem, Auntie Anna was right there ready to fix it and indeed she did. Lloyd, new to the family at the time, had a pair of jeans that ripped in the inseam and of course; they were headed across the street, to Auntie Anna’s for repair. Well, she fixed them so good that it would take years before they would ever rip again – he was amazed. She took great pride in her home and her lawn, and much to many a surprise, enjoyed watching professional football and most other professional sports. If I had to describe her, some words would be: self-giving and self-less, hard working, stoic, strong, determined, organized, quiet and patient. And her demeanor carried through until the very end, as she lay in her bed oh so peaceful and placid. In the hospital, when given a shot, she moved ever so slightly from the needle stick, without a sound, yet stayed so strong until the very end with that tight, right-handed grip. She was without a doubt, cut from a unique cloth, as some would say, she was “a salt of the earth” woman. So whether you knew her as mom, grandma, Auntie Anna, Ann, Anna, “our Annie” or “angelic Annie”, we were all touched by angel and for that we have been so blessed. I will miss you Auntie Anna, we all will! Written by Joan Cebrick Grossman Eulogy read at Auntie Anna’s funeral mass 4-23-05