Anna (Bench) Aiken

Anna B. Aiken, 89, a resident of Lake Winola, died Wednesday at the Allied Services Skilled Nursing unit, Scranton, after brief illness.

Born in Coaldale, PA, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Katherine Naparlo Bench.

She graduated from Coaldale H.S. and then attended Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing earning her RN accred-idation.During WW II, she was commissioned as a Second Liuetenant in the Army Nurse Corps and was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ.

After the war, married life brought her to live in Mountainside, NJ working at Westinghouse Manufacturing for 10 years and Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ in neo-natal care for the next 22 years. She retired to Coaldale in 1974.

She was a member of the Lake Winola United Methodist Church, the VFW in Coaldale, PA and a past member of Eastern Star.

She had wonderful friendships that still endure to this date. Through these friendships, she fell in love with Lake Winola, spending week-ends and summer vacations there. She finally moved to her "little piece of heaven on earth" in 1988.

Anna loved to bake, especially Christmas cookies and kolachi. In early November every year there was a production line to make the cookies.

Gardening and seeing life come to bear fruit was a great joy to her. All of God's creatures were her friends. Every sunrise and sunset was a treat not to be taken for granted.

She enjoyed TV and watching politics unfold, professional golf events, QVC and HSN.

Her hobbies were fishing for hours on end, making and building things from small to large remodeling projects, baking and cooking for her family.

She loved to help her son, daughter or son-in-law with any projects they happened to be working on, power tools and all.

Anna always had a great belief in God and Jesus our Savior. At peace she will experience and live that devotion with great JOY!

The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Community Care of Dunmore for their care and compassion, Dr. R. Gratz for a healthy 23 years, Dr. Emma Rubin and all of the Allied Skilled first floor north staff for the last five weeks of care. Anna also had the best chauffer's at her disposal; her neighbors Dot and Bob. THANK YOU!

She is survived by her daughter Beverly and "best" son-in-law Stanley C. Bochak, a sister-in-law Anna Bench, many nieces and nephews, several great nieces and nephews, a few great, great nieces and nephews and her constant companion and good boy, Hunter.

She was preceded in death by her son, Robert M. Aiken II in 2008, 3 sisters; Franny, Eva and Mary, and a brother John.

Service: A graveside service will be held on Monday at 2 p.m. in St. Nicholas Greek Catholic Cemetery, 74 Joyce St., Hometown, PA to be celebrated by the Rev. Joan Dodson, pastor of Lake Winola United Methodist Church. Full military honors to follow. As per Anna's request, there will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Lake Winola Fire Company or the Lower Wyoming County Food Bank, c/o L.W.U.M.C.

Arrangements are by the Chipak Funeral Home, 623 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, 18512.