Obituary of Joseph C. (Panowicz) Panaway

Joseph C. (Panowicz) Panaway, 70, of Hanover Township, passed away peacefully at his home on August 6, 2021, while surrounded by family. Born on October 12, 1950, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, he was the son of the late Leon F. and Victoria Moch Panowicz. Joe grew up in the Plains area and was a graduate of Plains Memorial High School, class of 1969. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Sicily for his tour of duty. He was honorably discharged and transferred into reserve status. After returning home, Joe met and fell in love with Mary Ann Bonick. On June 1, 1974, the couple married and settled in Hanover Township. Together the couple raised their three children: Joseph, Michael, and Susan. This June, the couple celebrated forty-seven years of marriage together. Joe worked in construction building local highways and he was a member of the Laborers Local 215. He also worked for more than twenty-five years with the I2M Manufacturing Company retiring in 2015. During his life, Joe loved fishing. He taught many family members how to fish throughout the years. For Joe, the joy of fishing was about the experience of being on the pond and in nature, not the thrill of the catch. Joe also enjoyed watching football and baseball and reading about history, especially the Civil War and World War II. In 2012, Joe was diagnosed with a terminal illness. When the illness became too great in 2021, the skilled nurses of the Residential Hospice made Joe’s last months comforting for him and his family. The family is forever grateful to Dr. Greenwald, his staff, and the compassion of the Residential Hospice nurses. Joseph was preceded in death by his loving parents, daughter in law Judy Panaway, and brothers Stanley, Raymond, Thomas, and Bernard. Surviving are his wife Mary Ann, at home; sons Joseph A., Wilkes-Barre; Michael, Hanover Twp.; daughter Susan A. Williams and her husband Sean, Honesdale; sisters Leona Svab and husband Robert; Bernadine Yencha; Delphine Wejkszner; Alice Mae Morgan and husband Harry; brother Attorney Robert Panowicz and his wife Cheryl; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, August 15, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark Street, Plains Twp. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Leo’s Holy Rosary Church, 33 Manhattan Street, Ashley. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Vincent Dang, pastor. Military honors will be conducted at the end of Mass. Family and friends are asked to gather at the church prior to Mass.