Joan Ferranti

Joan Ferranti, 92, formerly of Olyphant, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday. Her loving husband, Orlando Ferranti, preceded her in death in February of 1992. They were married for 36 years.

Joan was the daughter of Anne Coulthard Kelleher and James P. Kelleher. She grew up in Throop and was a graduate of Throop High School. A devout Catholic, she was a former member of St. Bridget’s Alter and Rosary Society, taught CCD classes and was a member of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, an association of people who choose to live the gospel in the spirit of the Carmelite Order. After the death of her dear friend, Peg Dodgson, Joan took over as hostess and coordinator of Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, a group Peg founded. Every Tuesday, this small group of women met to make rosaries and distributed them to First Holy Communicants for many of the parishes in the area. Their handmade rosaries were also sent to missions around the world for free distribution. A current member of Holy Cross Parish in Olyphant, Joan volunteered to fulfill a weekly holy hour of Eucharistic adoration for many years. She was also a member of their quilting club.

The extraordinary medical care Joan received as a patient of Dr. Ferdinand Manahan made it possible for her to enjoy Throop Civic Center’s bi-weekly senior aerobics class and weekly social club well into her 80’s. Joan was a passionate woman who lived life on her own terms. She held several jobs over her lifetime, but she is best known for her position as a teacher’s aide in the Follow-Through program at Throop Elementary school and as a gifted seamstress who specialized in the restoration of vintage wedding gowns for new generations. She made many friends in her position as the store trainer at Jamesway in Dunmore and particularly enjoyed working with the young adults there. Joan’s favorite job, however, was the one she retired from, working as a file clerk for the law firm of Elliott, Vanaskie & Riley, where she met a group of people she considered to be like family, many of whom she spoke of fondly until her death.

She is survived by her four children: Laura (Dave) Davitt, Lisa Kamosky, Lorna (Joe) Yzkanin and Eric (Melissa) Ferranti; eleven grandchildren: David, Jason, Joseph, Katie, Melissa, Amber, Megan, Rachel, Kelly, Sarah and James; seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Joan was blessed to have her grandniece, Kathy, help care for her with great love and compassion during the last two years of her life. She was preceded in death by four sisters: Margaret Lear, Johanna Kelleher, Anne Rader and Kathryn Abbott; and three brothers, James, Michael and Byron Kelleher.

Dr. Nicholas Dodge and several very special staff members of Telespond Senior Services, In-Home Personal Care, Mid Valley Health Care, Geisinger CMC and Hospice of the Sacred Heart, have the eternal gratitude of the family for treating our Mom with compassion, dignity and love.

Private funeral mass and viewing will be held for the immediate family.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Telespond Senior Services, 1200 Saginaw Street, Scranton, PA 18505 or Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 340 Montage Mountain Rd., Moosic, PA, 18507.

For directions or on-line condolences, please visit www.hudak-osheafuneralhome.com.