Shirley Pavelchak Wallace

Shirley Pavelchak Wallace, 88, of Forest City, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the home of her daughter in Dresher on the morning of Sunday, June 28th, 2020. Shirley was the wife of the late Peter Pavelchak, who died in 1988, and the late James Wallace, who died in 2009.

The daughter of the late Carl and Hannah Simons Breese, Shirley was born and raised in Elkdale. She eventually settled in Vandling at her family’s home with her late husbands, Pete and Jim, respectively. She moved to William Penn Apartments, Forest City, in 2010 where she resided until recently. Shirley fondly remembered growing up on a farm and attending a one room school house in Elkdale, and graduating from Hartford High School in 1949. In 1952, she began working at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company and had an uncommon ability for remembering phone exchanges of many residents from the area well into her 80’s. In 1969, she began her nearly forty-year career at the Forest City News where she was a Linotype operator and then later learned the computer as a way to prepare ads for publication in the weekly news.

Shirley’s church community meant the world to her. At the Christ Episcopal Church in Forest City, she sang in the choir and spent many days and hours preparing baked goods and meals for annual and monthly dinners; she was famous for making wonderful desserts and for sharing her talents generously with anyone who wished to enjoy them with her.

Shirley was known for her positive outlook and easy going attitude. Additionally, her gift of friendship will serve as a legacy to the full life she lived in the small town she called “home.”

The family would like to thank the staff of Holy Redeemer Homecare and Hospice, and Anna Stolzer, who helped to provide such loving care and support to both Shirley and her family during the time she needed additional care.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law: Paula Strous and husband Zane, Dresher; and Darice Eppinger and husband John, Jenkintown; a sister, June Arrowsmith, Forest City; sister-in-law: Connie Breese, Harford; grandsons: John and Derek Eppinger, Jenkintown; step-granddaughters: Sierra and Miranda Strous; and many nieces, nephews and their families. She is also survived by her loving family through her marriage to Jim Wallace: stepdaughter: Donna Barney and husband John, Nicholson; stepson: Richard Wallace and wife Nancy, Clifford Township; step-grandchildren: Stacey and Steve Decker, Clifford Township; Stephanie and Andy Stoddard, Lenox; Dylan and Tomika Barney, Lenoxville; Annie and Joe Fritz, New Jersey; Brittany Wallace and Jacob Wallace, Clifford Township; and Brianna Barney, Nicholson; as well as eight great grandchildren.

 In addition to her late husbands, Shirley was preceded in death by her brother, Jay Breese, and her sister, Lillian Goff.

The funeral will be Saturday June 26th with services at 10 am in the Christ Episcopal Church, Forest City.  Interment will follow in Lyon Street Cemetery, Union Dale.  Friends may call at the church on Saturday morning, from 9 am to 10 am.   Arrangements by the Jones & Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main Street, Forest City.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Christ Episcopal Church, 700 Delaware Street, P. O. Box 118, Forest City, PA 18421.

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