Katherine Yurchak

Katherine Yurchak, a former resident of Muncy for many years, passed away on November 27, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 97.

Born to Anthony and Teresa Sasso in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey in 1921, her family moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts where she grew up, the oldest of eight siblings.  She began writing at the age of 16, and became a prolific freelance writer and journalist, specializing in inspirational and human interest stories. Ms. Yurchak also served in broadcasting, hosting local interest radio programs in the Pittsfield area, and later in Williamsport after her family moved to Muncy in 1946. Her beautiful contralto voice was also heard frequently in church choirs, and on her radio programs.

Ms. Yurchak married Nicholas Yurchak in 1954, and together they ran their electrical contracting and appliance business, Muncy Electric Center, in Muncy until his death in 2002.

A non-traditional graduate of Bloomsburg University, Ms. Yurchak authored a history of Muncy entitled Where Wigwams Stood as part of her honors thesis for a degree in mass communications, at the age of 74. The proceeds from this book have contributed to scholarships for other non-traditional students at Bloom.

Ms. Yurchak is survived by her son, John and his wife Susan, residing in Alexandria, Virginia, and her brother, Matthew, residing in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Grenoble’s, 121 S. Main St., Muncy, where the funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.  Officiating will be the Rev. Robert Rice, pastor of Muncy Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in Muncy Cemetery.

The family will provide flowers and suggests memorial contributions in Katherine’s name be made to either Bloomsburg University Foundation, 50 East Main St. 4th Floor, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (online at https://giving.bloomu.edu/donate/give-now) or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 (online at www.alz.org)

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