Obituary of Hedwig Theresa Zbick

Amidst the backdrop and fond memories of the family's dairy farm, Hedwig Zbick (Hedy Zbieg) of Shavertown lived her life as a veteran civil servant, dedicated caregiver, and youngest of twelve siblings. On Friday, July 15 she quietly departed this life surrounded by her family while a patient at Wesley Village Rehabilitation Center.

Hedy was born to the late Peter and Kathryn Mazur Zbick of Jackson Township and preceded in death by her sisters, Mary, Victoria and Pauline and brothers, Louis, Joseph, twins John and Martin, Walter, and Anthony. A sister Ava and a brother George died in infancy.

She was a graduate of the former Lehman High School and honored as Valedictorian of her class, as well as a graduate of Empire Beauty School and Wilkes-Barre Business College. Hedy utilized her skills as an administrative secretary to assist several superintendents during her 43 years of dedicated service at the State Correctional Institution-Dallas.

Hedy was an accomplished seamstress and had several Vogue pattern dresses or suits being meticulously tailored at any one time. She was a bird lover and quickly took to the kitchen window where a cardinal or robin or other hungry friends came to visit her welcoming barn-shaped birdhouse. She had a love of ice cream and most trips included a stop for a good, heaping scoop of chocolate ice cream. When it came to pie, her favorite was a substantial slice of apple pie, and a scoop of ice cream to top it off. She was awarded a well-deserved ribbon for her apple-raisin pie at a local bake-off and remembered it fondly. She was a farm girl at heart but few could compete with her stylish outfits which she would carefully coordinate down to her earrings. Hedy was most importantly a woman of great faith and each day took ample time for prayer and reflection. Her retirement years were spent caring for several of her sisters and brothers, sending loving packages to family in Poland, joining lunches with her group of fellow parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, enjoying visits by family and friends while eating, yes, pie of the day, as well as Sunday Mass and other church activities, especially enjoying the potato pancakes and polka music at the church's annual bazaar.

Hedy is survived by nieces Chris Drabick, Cathy Schweizer, Mary Ann Lawson, Fran Moriarty, Elizabeth Zbick, Rita Stefanowicz, Patricia Morrow, and the late Bernadine Cassidy; nephews Joseph Zbick, Jim Zbick as well as great and great-great nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 9:30 a.m. from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with A Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2011 State Route 29, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621, with Rev. Brian Van Fossen, officiating. Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, July 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Pikes Creek, following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2011 State Route 29, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 or donation of choice.

To send Hedy's family a message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home's website, www.clswanson funeralhome.com.