Philomena T Klein

P. DEAN HOMER FUNERAL HOME 206 WATER STREET DUSHORE, PA 18614 TEL 570 928-8163 FAX 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net Obituary Philomena T. Klein, 87, passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Messiah Village, the caring and loving community in Mechanicsburg, PA where she resided for the past eight years. Born at her grandparents’ home in Mildred, PA on March 8, 1925 to Joseph and Josephine (Calaman) Bianchi, Philomena lived the majority of her life in the same house on Jackson Street where she grew up with her siblings. After graduating from Cherry Township High School, Philomena went to Wilkes-Barre to study cosmetology and start a career as a beautician. During World War II, she moved to New Jersey and worked alongside her Aunt Annie modifying light bulbs for a defense plant. A few years later, she came back to Sullivan County and accepted a job offer from the Endicott Johnson shoe factory in Mildred. Over the years, Philomena steadily climbed the corporate ladder and eventually earned the position of plant manager—pretty impressive for a girl who liked to say she got her degree from the “School of Hard Knocks”. She retired from Endicott Johnson in 1991 after 36 years of exemplary service. “Philly”, as she was known by her friends, enjoyed making Italian meals, reading romance novels, shopping at the mall and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Nicholas; and her baby sister, Jean. Surviving are two sons, Michael and Patrick; eight grandchildren, Heather, Jennifer, Krystal, Christopher, Ashley, Emily, Miranda and Kendall; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeanette; three nieces and her daughter-in-laws, Linda, Nancy and Lyndeana. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mildred on Saturday, December 22 at 10:30 A.M. with the Rev. Joseph R. Hornick presiding. Interment will be in the adjoining parish cemetery. The family will greet friends and relatives at the church on Saturday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Philomena’s name to the Mildred Fire Company & Ambulance Association, PO Box 74, Mildred, PA 18632. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Philomena T Klein, please visit our flower store.