Julia Zigon

Julia Zigon, a lifelong resident of Olyphant, died Monday at Mid Valley Hospital, Peckville.Her husband was the late Edmund Ludwig Zigon.Born in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Julia Malesiewicz Stanko.As a child, Julia loved to play the violin. During the depression, at the age of 14, she courageously and independently traveled to New York to procure employment as both a nanny and housekeeper in order to send money home to her mother. As an adult, she was a member and participant for 30 years in St. Patrick’s choir, now Holy Cross Parish. She was an avid bingo player and reader of Guideposts, Reader’s Digest and the Daily Newspaper. She also loved to country western dance, which she did until the age of 86. In addition, she enjoyed crocheting, crafts, word find and doing puzzles. During election time, she worked at the local polls. She was a volunteer for Serving Seniors. While residing at the Laurel’s Skilled Nursing in Peckville for the last three and a half years, she became president of the Resident Council and she was extremely proud of that position. At the ripe age of 94, she became one of the only seniors that we were aware of who were transferred and graduated to Assisted Living.She loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and thoroughly enjoyed spending time at gatherings and holidays with them.  She will be deeply missed and loved forever. She was truly the essence of motherhood. One of the lessons of life that her children will always appreciate and remember was the skill of improvising in any situation.Her family would like to thank the Laurels Skilled Nursing for all their dedication, attention to detail and kindess that was shown to their mother….she loved her nickname,”Jules.”They would also like to thank everyone at the Mid-Valley Hospital for their empathy, compassion, caring, kindness and consideration. They were all truly ultimate professionals.Surviving are two sons, Edmund Zigon, Middle Island, N.Y.; and Harold Zigon, Pompton Lakes, N.J.; five daughters, Kathy Drake and husband, Kenneth, Clarks Summit; Dorothy Cipilewski, Olyphant; Henny Bianchi and husband, Joseph, Dunmore; Juliet Avery, Archbald; and Marie Zigon, Carbondale; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Darren and Rose Zigon, David and Wendy Zigon, Cherie and Vincent Monteleone, Darrell and Kathleen Drake, Wendy and Frank Sandly, Bernadette Cipilewski and Michael Shefchhick, Mike and Michelle Cipilewski, Karen and Bob Doughton, and Joseph Bianchi; 17 great-grandchildren, Nicole, Frank and Marisa Zigon, Austin and Caitlin Drake, Frank, Corey and Mason Sandly, Avery, Alexa and Justin Zigon, Brendan and Sarah Monteleone, Caitlin, Kellen and Jack Doughton, and Michael Cipilewski.She was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Paul and Kathleen, Michael, and George and Helen Stanko.Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church, Olyphant. Friends are asked to go directly to the church.Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Blakely.Friends may call Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Hudak-O’Shea Funeral Home, 115 Garfield Ave., Olyphant.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Laurels at Mid Valley Skilled Nursing/Activity Fund, 85 Sturges Road, Peckville, PA, 18452.For directions or online condolences, visit www.hudak-osheafuneralhome.com.