Obituary of Joan Sura

Joan Sura of Wilkes-Barre, PA, passed away peacefully in the early morning on Friday, December 29, 2023, surrounded by her daughters following a brief illness. Joan, born on December 12, 1938, was the daughter of the late Vincenzo and Elizabeth (Flora) Berrini, Wilkes-Barre. She had just celebrated her 85th birthday with her family. She was a graduate of GAR Memorial High School, Class of 1956. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Nicholas D. Sura, Sr. with whom she enjoyed 54 years of marriage at the time of his passing; son Nicholas D. Sura, Jr; and Grandson, Brian Sura; brothers: Benjamin Berrini, Sr; Joseph Berrini, Dominick Berrini, Vincent Berrini; sisters Arcille Rallo, Regina Alesczik; and Edith Curcio. She is survived by her daughters Cathy Pack and her husband John, Hanover Township and Karen McHale and her husband, Sean, Drums; Daughter in Law, Barbara Sura; Sister, Irene Pluskey; Grandchildren: Nicholas D. (Feng She) Sura III, Ancorage, Alaska; Kirsten (Michael) Malshefski, Hanover Township; and Christian Pack, Audobon, PA; Great Grandchildren Jonathan Sura, San Antonio, Texas; Chloe Sura, Ankorage, Alaska; several nieces and nephews. Joan was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She spent her early years working as a seamstress in several of the local dress factories of the Wyoming Valley and was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She retired early to tend to her grandchildren, Kirsten and Christian in the 1990’s. Always looking for ways to give her grandchildren those “extra special things”, she eventually found side work cleaning the newly opened First Heritage Bank in Wilkes-Barre. Here she forged friendships with ladies who would become her second daughters, “the girls from the bank”, all of whom she treasured until the time of her passing. Joan enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking Sunday dinners and holiday meals, and was admired for her skill in maintaining the family traditions of her Italian heritage, handed down to her by her mother. Her daughters have a momentous task ahead in filling her shoes in the kitchen, particularly in safeguarding her title of “Meatball Queen”. Whether you knew her as Joan, Aunt Joanie, or “Joanie from the Block”, when you were in her presence, you knew you were in the presence of greatness—Joan was of a generation that lived to make the lives of everyone around her better. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends, particularly her daughters, Cathy (shopping buddy); Karen (cooking buddy) and niece, Barbara Mullay (Saturday night dinner buddy). A viewing honoring Joan’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 from 9:30AM to 11AM in St. Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception, South Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre with a Mass of Christian Burial starting at 11AM, with Rev. Father Joseph Verespy, Pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in Joan’s honor to: Medical Oncology Prescription Plan or Allied Hospice in Wilkes-Barre.