Obituaries

On Wednesday morning, October 10, 2012, Madeline “Madge” Sirko Preate, surrended her Spirit to the Lord after a courageous three year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Madge died at the home of her daughter and caregiver, Carla, with whom she has resided since her diagnosis. She spent her final days surrounded by her loving family.
Madge celebrated her 80th birthday on September 22. She was born in 1932, the youngest of 12 children born to Michael and Mary Lefchak Sirko, immigrants from Austria-Hungary who settled in Old Forge to raise their family. All preceded her in death.
Madge attended school in Old Forge, graduating in 1950, where she was head majorette. In 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, the captain of the football team, Joseph C. Preate, Jr., who died on September 18, 1986. She never stopped missing him. During their married life, Madge worked alongside her husband in the floral business, Preate Florist; and then in 1985, together they launched Preate Winery, which still continued after his death until she became ill in 2009.
A devout Catholic, Madge prayed the rosary daily which was the source of her strength during her life but especially during her illness. She was an active member of St. Mary of the Assumtpion Church, Prince of Peace Parish, Old Forge, for many years.
She is survived by daughters, Carla Preate-DeCarli of Waverly Township; Joanne Preate Owens and husband Anthony of Harrisburg; Jessica Aldubayan of Old Forge; and son, Gregory Preate and wife Melissa of Harvey’s Lake; 13 grandchildren, Nabil Aldubayan; Marisa DeCarli Maddox; Alexander, Jonathan and Jared Owens; Nicole, Jamal, Deion, Andre, Bryonna, Aisha and Aaliyah Aldubayan; and Gregory Preate, Jr. She was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild, Amira Nabil Aldubayan, in November. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.
Her funeral will be conducted on Friday, October 12, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter’s, Scranton, to be concelebrated by Rev. Philip A. Altavilla, Pastor, and Rev. Joseph F. Cipriano. Entombment will follow in the Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Those attending are asked to go directly to the church where the family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass.
Arrangements are under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge.
The family is requesting that memorial contributions be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society online @ www.cancer.org or by phone @ 1-800-227-2345.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Paula Ronjon and the nurses and staff at the Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley and to Dr. Nicholas Chiumento and his staff, especially Brenda, for their compassionate care. Also our appreciation is offered to Nurses, Nancy and Karen and aide, Kelly and all the staff at the Visiting Nurses Association for their kindness and support; and to Carolyn Flannery, RN, with the Hospice of the Sacred Heart for providing friendship and comfort. An extra special thank you is extended to her “Angel,” Mary Sciala, who visited her without fail every Wednesday over the course of her illness to bring her Communion and provide her and her daughter with companionship and encouragement.
“Say not in grief that she is no more, but say in thankfulness that she was. A death is not the extinguishing of a light, but the putting out of the lamp because the dawn has come.” -Rabindranath Tagore.