EternalMemory

Mrs. Mary (Bitsko) Cortese

Mrs. Mary (Bitsko) Cortese, 90, of Lincoln Park, N.J., entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains, N.J. She was the widow of Edward Cortese, who died in 2001.

Born in the Seek section of Coaldale, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Helen (Zelinka) Bitsko.

She lived most of her life in the Lincoln Park area, raising her family there.

Mary was a very social person who loved to cook.

She was of the Byzantine Catholic faith and was active in church affairs at the Church of the Resurrection in Smithtown, Long Island, N.Y., where her brother served as priest for many years.

Surviving are a son Louis, and his wife, Julia, of Towaco, N.J.; two daughters, Jean Ellen Cortese of Lincoln Park and Carol Ann, wife of Arne Andersen of Lillehammer, Norway; two brothers, Nicolas, and his wife, Ruth, and Father Daniel, both of New Britain, PA; a sister Helen, wife of John Kochaba in Delaware; six grandchildren, Damian Loverro, Joshua Harrison, Lily Cortese, Nikolai Singh, Venanzio Cortese and Mischa Singh; and a great-granddaughter, Freya Harrison.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Vincentine Singh; and five brothers, Michael, John, Frank, Steve and Andrew.

Service: Funeral services 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 W. Center St., Nesquehoning; Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m., St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 116 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, with the Rev. Vasyl Chepelskyy officiating. Interment, St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, Summit Hill. Call 9-10 a.m. Saturday. Online condolences can be offered at www.nalesnikfh.com.

Published in Times News on Oct. 12, 2015

Note: 1943 Alumnus of Coldale Highi School.