Obituaries

Alberta Ann Orr, age 87, of West Scranton, passed away Sunday evening under the care of Mercy Hospital Hospice in Scranton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph P. Orr, on May 29, 1963. Born in Scranton on February 8, 1922, daughter of the late John and Anna Kennedy May, Alberta was a graduate of the former Holy Rosary High School. Prior to retirement, she worked as a sales clerk for the former Murphy’s Department Store in North Scranton and Oppenheims. Of Roman Catholic faith, she was a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in West Scranton, a member of its Society of the Faithful and a past president of its Altar and Rosary Society. Also a member of the Catholic Women’s Club, she most enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
Alberta was a devout Catholic and proud of her Irish heritage. She was selfless, always putting the needs of others ahead of hers. This was exemplified by her care giving to her husband who had been paralyzed in a work accident in 1955. At that time her son Tom was three years old and Mike one. For seven years until Joe’s death in 1963 she was wife, caretaker, nurse and mother. As a child Alberta was injured by a blasting cap, losing parts of three fingers. However, she and Joe never let their physical limitations affect their spirit, thus instilling life long values in their boys. Her faith was always her guide and she was truly an angel on Earth.
She is survived by her sons; Thomas Orr and wife Candace of Harrisburg and Michael Orr and wife Beth of Scranton, a sister, Bernadine James of Scranton, four grandchildren; Megan McCabe, Joseph, Eamonn and Riley Orr, and four great-grandchildren; Molly, Jack, Maura and Cathleen McCabe.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers and five sisters.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 9AM from the Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton, with a 9:30AM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 1403 Jackson Street in West Scranton. Interment will follow in the Cathedral Cemetery, Oram Street.
Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday between 5-8PM at the funeral home.