Obituary of Mark Vincent Yanaitis

Mark Vincent Yanaitis, 65, retired funeral director from the Hudson section of Plains Township, passed away on June 4, 2014, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Hudson, he was the son of the late Vincent W. Yanaitis and Isabelle C. Sweeda. Mark attended St. Joseph's elementary school and was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School, class of 1966. Mark continued his education at King's College. He received his bachelors of science in Mathematics in 1970. Mark enrolled at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service and graduated in September, 1971. He passed his National Boards and apprenticed with his father Vincent. Mark received his Funeral Director's License in December of 1972. In 1973, Mark completed a post graduate course and was certified for cornea removal by the Eye Foundation of Delaware Valley, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia. Mark began operating the family funeral home after his father Vincent passed on February 2, 1981. He continued his service for forty-one years until he retired in 2013. The family business was passed to the third generation, Christopher, to succeed Mark into the business' seventy-sixth year of operation. Mark married the former Martha Dieso, on December 23, 1972. Mr. and Mrs. Yanaitis celebrated forty-one years of marriage. Together they raised two daughters, Jennifer and Dawn, and one son, Christopher. He was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Hudson, and the Holy Name Society until the church's closure. He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Plains, a past officer of the Plains Lions Club, a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, an executive board member and past president of the Luzerne County Funeral Directors Association. Mark enjoyed listening to music and also playing the piano, accordion, and organ. In his younger years he was very involved in the local music scene. He was part of the band "The 3 M's". Mark loved to ride motorcycles with his son Chris and he relished his time woodworking in his workshop. Spending time with him family especially his grandchildren, who knew his as Pop-Pop, was very close to his heart. Mark is survived by his loving wife Martha, at home; daughters Jennifer Boutboul, St. Petersburg, Fl, Dawn Gillam and her husband Scott, Forty-Fort; son Christopher and his wife Maria, Hudson; sisters Anita Chebalo and her husband Frank, Virginia Beach, Va; Loretta Lehman, Dallas; grandchildren Mia and Ari Boutboul; Lennox Gillam; Evie and Kylie Yanaitis; nieces and nephews. Funeral Services for Mark will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. from the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc. 55 Stark Street, Plains. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Plains, 13 Hudson Road. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. John Boyle. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Sunday, June 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Luzerne County Funeral directors will meet at 4:30 p.m. and the Plains Lions Club at 7:00pm. To send online condolences to the family and directions to the services, please access www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com