Obituaries

Amy Elizabeth Gaughan, R.N. of Old Forge, passed away on Saturday, January 18th. She will forever remain in the hearts of her loved ones.
A lifelong Old Forge resident, Amy was born on October 26, 1975 to her loving parents, Joseph and Patricia (Barnic) Gaughan. She was a 1994 graduate of Old Forge High School and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Misericordia University. For more than a decade, she worked as an Intensive Care Unit R.N. at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center before recently serving as Clinical Coordinator of Pre-operation and Recovery at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.
No words can express the profound sorrow that her family, friends, co-workers and all those that played a role in Amy’s life, are experiencing at this time. She was recently described by one of her High School teachers as someone who “sparkled” and always carried a “glint in her eye.” “She always wore a smile; she was always loving, compassionate, thoughtful, caring and loyal.” Her friends, too, have reached out to us with so many kind words in the past few days. Their memories of Amy are all so similar. “Vibrant kind heart, intelligent, witty, hilarious, beautiful inside and out,” were some of the terms and descriptions they used to convey Amy’s spirit. It was not surprising, then, that her career path led her to those who needed the most care. We are sure that her loving touch and kind soul made a positive and lasting impression on those patients and families she cared for and attended to daily.
Those who knew Amy well, were aware of the masks she wore to hide her insecurities. To all those who loved her, walked beside her, at times carried her and tried to help her deal with the forces and demons that would eventually bring about her demise; our family is forever grateful to you. We all wished that Amy could have loved herself the way we and others loved her.
The void that Amy’s passing has created in our lives will never be filled. Going forward, we will relish the moments we were blessed to have shared with her, and we will continue to live out our lives to the fullest, spreading love and serving others – just as Amy did.
In addition to her parents Joe and Patti Gaughan, she is also survived by her beloved siblings, Atty. Joseph Gaughan and wife Penelope of Scranton, twin sisters Shelly Egan and husband Michael of Covington Twp. and Kelly Dolphin and husband Sean of Scranton, and Kevin Gaughan and wife Adria of Old Forge; adoring aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends; and especially her best friend and pup, Louis.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Friday at 10:00AM at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., West Scranton, to be celebrated by Rev. Richard Fox, Pastor. Burial at the Cathedral Cemetery will be private. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at the church on Friday from 9:00AM until Mass.
With Amy’s love for animals, especially Louis, in mind, memorial contributions may be made in her name to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Rd, South Abington Township, PA 18411. In addition, memorial contributions may also be made in Amy’s name to the Women’s Resource Center located at 620 Madison Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510. Arrangements are under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge.