Jean Marie Novak

Jean Marie Novak

December 18, 1949 – September 22, 2024

Jeannie Novak, the former Jean Waleski, passed away peacefully while a resident of Chestnut Ridge Nursing Home in Cumming, Georgia.

Born December 18, 1949 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Frank and Mary (Keddie) Waleski of Avoca. She spent her early childhood years in Avoca and spent the majority of her life in Pittston. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Avoca and Pittston area schools. In November 2023, she moved to Cumming and briefly resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Ludwig (Luddy) Manganiello.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Stanley J. Novak, and an infant son and infant daughter.

In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, she is survived by her grandson, Nicholas Bolka and his fiancé, Amanda, Peckville, PA; her sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and David Britton, Duryea, PA; niece, Holly Scarantino, Duryea, PA; great niece, Katara Warunek and great nephew, Luke Warunek, both of Pittston, PA; her daughter’s stepson, Thomas Manganiello (Mellody), West Pittston, PA.

Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a seamstress at various dress factories throughout the Greater Pittston area, most notably the Valley Dress. She served as a union official with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She was later employed in the newspaper industry at both The Sunday Dispatch (Pittston) and The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre). For more than thirty-five years, she was active in Pittston and Luzerne County politics having held various positions with the county Bureau of Elections with her last being Judge of Elections in her neighborhood ward’s polling location.

Although she held many jobs, the one she enjoyed the most was her job as a grandmother to Nick. From the day he was born, the bond between her and her only grandchild ran deep. Her move to Georgia was a tough decision for her solely because she knew she was going to miss him the most. She also missed the various friends and neighbors she had in Pittston.

The family will receive visitors on October 14, 2024 for one hour prior to a 9:30 funeral mass at St. Joseph Marello Parish in Pittston. The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff at Chestnut Ridge and Willowbrook Hospice for providing comfort and care. Having lived a lifetime with diabetes, the nurses made sure she had every sugary sweet she wanted in her final days.

Memorial donations can be made to Whiskers World (cat rescue) or to a charity of the donor’s choice. The family requests that you do something fun in remembrance of Jeannie . . . Have cake or a hot fudge sundae, drink a Margarita, teach a younger generation your favorite card game or watch the movie, The Goonies, with a child.