Obituary of Bernadine E. Zglinicki Smith Elick

Bernadine Zglinicki Smith Elick, 91, of Wilkes-Barre Township, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. She was born in Glen Lyon, a daughter of the late John and Mary (Zmijewski) Zglinicki. Bernardine was a graduate of Newport Township High School and the Wilkes-Barre Business College. Prior to her retirement in 1997, she was employed by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District as an office secretary at the administration building, Kistler Elementary and G.A.R. Memorial High School. Bernadine also served as a secretary and spokesperson for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District Secretarial Union until her retirement. Bernadine was a Wilkes-Barre correspondent and for the Sunday Independent and columnist for the Times Leader for five years and columnist for the Citizens’ Voice since 2004. Bernadine was an active member of her community. She formerly served as the first Wilkes-Barre Township Secretary. She was also a member and secretary of the Wilkes-Barre Township Senior Citizens and former member and Secretary-treasurer of the Wilkes-Barre Township Democratic Organization and served as the first secretary of the Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. Bernadine was formerly an usher at the F.M. Kirby Center and she volunteered for the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society for many years. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Monastery in Wilkes-Barre Township prior to becoming a member of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre. Bernadine was a very proud and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, who loved her family dearly. She enjoyed playing bingo, puzzles, attending church bazaars, traveling and seeing our country by air, train and bus, dinner shows, or just spending time with friends and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Smith and by her second husband, Thomas Elick; her son, Richard Smith; her grandson, Erik Smith; brother, Charles Zglenicki and sister, Theresa Gardner. Bernadine is survived by her children, Ronald Smith and his wife, Antoinette; Romayne Smith Petroski and her husband, David; Thomas Elick Jr. and his wife, Michelle and Ralph Elick and his fiancée, Trisha Sharkey. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Pamela Smith, Kurt Smith and, Jessica Ziobro and her husband, James, Logan, Blake and Thomas Elick III; great grandchildren, Bennett Ziobro, Richard Dean Smith and Scarlett Marie Smith; step grandchildren; step-grandchildren, Eric, Kyle and Luke Petroski; several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Bernadine’s life will begin with a visitation for family and friends from 9 – 10:45 am on Saturday in Our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 am. Parking is available in the church parking lots on S. Hancock Street. Interment will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery, Pringle. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in Bernadine’s name to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be sent by visiting Bernadine’s obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre.