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March 8, 2011
Lawrence A. “Larry” Swetz, 63, of Plains Township, died Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at the Hospice Community Care Inpatient Unit of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on August 23, 1947, in Hazleton, a son of the late Anthony L. “Lindy” and Mary Ellen Kakalecik Swetz. Larry was a graduate of West Hazleton High School and Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict, having served in Southeast Asia.
Larry was a longtime employee at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and was previously employed at Wickes Lumber and Valley Lumber. He was a family man who enjoyed traveling and dearly loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
He was a member of the former St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Hudson, where he was a member of the Holy Name Society, and was a member of the Men of Malvern. Larry most recently was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Plains Township.
Larry was preceded in death by his brother, David J. Swetz; and his nephew Christopher Curry.
Surviving are his wife and best friend of 37 years, Ann Marie Krokos Swetz; children, Brian Swetz and his wife, Kristen, of Swoyersville, and Keith Swetz and his wife, Jessica, of Rochester, Minn.; grandchildren, Nathanial Lawrence and Liam Robert, expected to enter this world May 25; Kathleen (Katie) Marie, Ian Joseph, Rachel Grace, and Ryan Lawrence; sisters, Dianne Curry and her husband, Richard, of Edwardsville, and Susan Kitlan and her husband, Emil, of Evans, Ga.; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Larry’s funeral will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday from Yanaitis Funeral Home, 55 Stark St., Plains Township, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains Township. Private interment with military honors will follow at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, http://hospicesacredheart.org/donations/; or to Plains Food Bank Administrated by Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains Township, PA 18705.
Condolences for the family and directions can be accessed through www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.