Joseph Kauczka Obituary

Joseph F. Kauczka, 69, of Eynon, passed away peacefully at home on July 1, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Pittston on May 25, 1956, he was the son of the late Edward and Veronica (Freeda) Kauczka. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Michael, in 1972, and a sister, Gloria, in 2023.

After graduating from Pittston Area High School in 1974, he went on to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree from Luzerne County Community College, a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Haven and a master's degree from Wilkes University. He worked for many years in Health Care as a food service director and as an executive in the senior living industry, in Pennsylvania and Delaware, retiring from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2021.

As an avid sports fan, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren compete in sports, playing guitar and following his beloved Dallas Cowboys. He took a great deal of pride in maintaining a pristine pool for everyone to enjoy during the summer months and loved cruising to the Caribbean with family and friends.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Dorothy Killiri Kauczka, of West Pittston; son, Jason and wife, Michelle, of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter, Jamie and husband, Dominick Esgro, of Scott Township; and sister, MaryAnn and husband, Paul Wydra, of Larksville.

The couple would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on Nov. 25 and has three grandchildren, Mickey, Wyatt and Vera, in addition to several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Maged Khalil and his oncology team from the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Dr. Mary Keohan from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan and the loving and compassionate care provided by the staff at Hospice of the Sacred Heart.

The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Mary's Church, 1090 Carmalt St., Dickson City, PA 18519. His ashes will be laid to rest at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Sacred Heart, 30 E.D. Preate Drive, Suite 108, Moosic, PA 18507, www.hospicesacredheart.org/donate.