Obituaries

Sylvia (Szerafinski) Conte, age 78, a lifelong resident of Moosic’s Greenwood section, passed away Tuesday at Regional Hospital of Scranton, after an illness. She is survived by her best friend, travel partner and beloved husband, Emil Conte. The couple were to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary on April 27th.
Born on April 22, 1941, and daughter of the late Stanley and Sophia (Kobeski) Szerafinski, Sylvia was a graduate of the former South Catholic High School, Class of 1958. She then began a career at Harper & Row (now HarperCollins Publishers) spanning 25 years before retiring as a customer service supervisor. A faithful Roman Catholic, she was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Church before it became known as Divine Mercy Parish.
Certainly living her life to the fullest, Sylvia’s interests were countless. A veteran traveler, she had spanned the globe, having trekked from the Panama Canal to the Cliffs of Moher to Venice’s Grand Canal, covering much of Europe and the entire United States along the way. With Emil as her co-pilot, she had been to every U.S. state, covering much of that ground while on several cross-country road trips.
She enjoyed quilting, and was a longtime member of the church’s quilting club. She loved her football, and was a loyal fan of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Penn State Nittany Lions, where she was also a season ticket holder.
Above all else came her family and dearest friends. She cherished her yearly “girls’ weekend” with her daughters and nieces and her monthly lunches with her Harper co-workers. She adored her grandchildren equally as much as they loved their grandma.
A social butterfly, Sylvia was the first one to hit the dance floor at any event and never passed up a good martini at her daily 4:00PM cocktail hour. She was caring, generous and a truly good person who will be forever missed by her loved ones.
She is survived by her three loving daughters, Kim Conte of Moosic, Kristin Samsell and husband Michael of Taylor and Kara Vullo and husband Philip of Spring Brook Twp.; her adoring grandchildren, Matthew Briskie and girlfriend Vanessa, Tyler Briskie and wife Lana, Chase Briskie, Amanda Barr and husband Matt, Hailey and Michael Samsell, Dominic and Isabella Vullo; three great grandchildren, Ava, Harper and Ryan and a fourth soon on the way; her sister, Dolores Zurek of Moosic; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and, as a lifelong pet lover, she leaves behind her pup, “Elsa.” Sisters, Marion Cavalari and Madeline White, also preceded her in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, August 7th, at 10:00AM at Divine Mercy Parish , 312 Davis Street in Scranton to be celebrated by Rev. Francis Pauselli, Pastor. Burial to follow at St. Mary of Czestochowa Cemetery in Moosic. Due to church seating capacity, the family asks you RSVP with them prior to attending the services.
Arrangements are under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge. Please visit the funeral home’s website for directions or to leave a condolence.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sylvia’s name to either Saint Joseph’s Center c/o 2010 Adams Avenue,
Scranton, PA 18509, or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital c/o 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements are under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street, Old Forge.