Obituaries

Kerie Genevieve Mecca, of Taylor, and an Old Forge native, passed away on Wednesday, December 2nd, due to an aortic aneurysm. She was 32 years old.
Born on Feb.4th, 1988, Kerie was the loving daughter of Joseph and Mary Pat (Connors) Mecca of Old Forge. She was a 2006 graduate of Old Forge High School and a 2010 graduate from Lock Haven University where she majored in Psychology. She then earned her master’s degree in Child Guidance from Capella University.  
She had a passion for working with mentally challenged children and adults. Kerie started her career at Scranton Counseling Center. She then moved into education, counseling students in Altoona and most recently at the New Story School in Wyoming. 
Kerie made many close friends over the years due to her heart of gold and helping those friends in many different ways. Although we cannot name them all, we know she would want us to mention her sorority sisters at Sigma Kappa and Sarah and Nicky who have been two of her closest friends for years. She would also want us to thank all of “The Boys” for all they have done for her, especially Mikey. Kerie was an avid reader who loved the Green Bay Packers, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Tom Petty, her various models of Subarus and many other things in life. She would never turn down helping any friend in need. Her friends described her as the most outgoing, fun-loving, and empathetic soul. Her loss has left a deep sadness on all those that knew her.
Also surviving is her loving sister and brother-in-law, Vanessa and Anthony Acey-Davis; her aunts and uncles, Rose Connors, Trudy Connors, Jimmy Connors, Cathy and Bob Holly, Ann and Dave Brudzinski, Karen and Bill Dalton, Deb and Bob Mecca, Joann Mecca; and her many cousins whom she loved so deeply. 
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Peter and Olga Mecca; maternal grandparents, John and Mary Connors; uncle Joe and aunt Carol Kneller and uncle Richard James.
Her family will forever be grateful to the entire staff of Regional Hospital’s Cardiac Center, including Dr. Lear Von Koch, and Kerie’s longtime primary physician, Dr. Armando Sallavanti, for their extraordinary care and compassion.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Monday at 10:00 AM at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Prince of Peace Parish, 123 West Grace Street in Old Forge, to be celebrated by Rev. August A. Ricciardi, Pastor. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Those attending the funeral are asked to go directly to the church.
Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Kerie’s life on Sunday between 2-4:00 PM at the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 N. Main Street in Old Forge.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kerie’s name to either the Scranton Counseling Center c/o 326 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 or to The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health c/o 11901 Santa Monica Blvd. #410, Los Angeles, CA  90025.