Frank Van Nort (1931-2016)

Frank Van Nort
August 9, 1931  -  November 22 2016
(married Jeanne Shanley abt 1955)

Scranton Times Obituary
25 November 2016

Frank J. Van Nort, 85, of Olyphant, died Tuesday at home. His wife is the former Jeanne Shanley. The couple had been married for 61 years.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late Frances Flederbach and Frank Van Nort, he was a graduate of Archbald High School and was a member of Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant. A machine operator and programmer at Lockhead Martin for most of his life, Frank was a talented handyman, fixing and building anything asked of him.

He enjoyed bowling, golfing, hunting, fishing and was very proud to have served his country. Frank was a veteran of the Air Force, serving in Japan during the Korean War.

Also surviving are his children, Joseph Van Nort, Jeanne Van Nort Kropa and husband, William; a sister, Loretta Brennan; two grandchildren, Corrinne and Shayna Kropa; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, William Van Nort; and three sisters, Frances Kerzic, Mary Dilts and Rita Kulikowski.

The funeral will be Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Hudak-O'Shea Funeral Home, 115 Garfield Ave., Olyphant, with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 in Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick's Church, 200 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, to be officiated by Monsignor Delaney. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Military services will be held by American Legion Raymond Henry Post 327 Olyphant and the Air Force.


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The Olyphant branch of the Legion had this sign up on Saturday of the funeral, regarding the military service.

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I will update this post with a photo of the headstone at the St Patrick's cemetery, Blakely PA, in the future.

UPDATE July 2017: headstone installed:

Dunmore Cemetery visit

This weekend we visited the beautiful Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton, Northeast Pennsylvania. The cemetery contains many beautiful monuments among modest headstones, and contains the graves and mausolea of many families who played a significant role in the development of the area, including namesake families (http://www.nepanewsletter.com/towns.html). For example....

In the foreground of this general view of the cemetery is the Dickson family mausoleum, after who Dickson City was named (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dickson_(industrialist) ).

Large marker stone for the FINLEY family plot. The fernleaf motif represents sorrow, and was relatively common in the cemetery.

The mausoleum of Frederick J Platt, beautiful art deco architecture. Platt was a descendant of an early influential family, was involved in Scranton corporate life, and published a book on the early history of Scranton in 1948 (https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofsc00plat ).

 This was the only ZINC headstone I observed in the cemetery (http://granite-in-my-blood.blogspot.com/2009/01/zinc-gravestone.html ) - and the first I've ever seen. The monument is in stunning condition (a benefit of using zinc, which is extremely stable). This grave belongs to Mary Jane Roesler, born Feb 3, 1820, died Apr 23, 1885. Note that the right-hand panel can be unscrewed for installation of a new monumental inscription.

This is the BOIES family mausoleum, dug into the side of a steep hill. Likely the family of Col. Henry M. Boies (http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/150-who-made-scranton-great-henry-m-boies-1.1981772 ), a colonel and civil war veteran who was a businessman and inventor.

The ZIMMER family pyramid (?), very unique. Marks the graves of John & Theresa Zimmer : Sept 5, 1856 - July 4 1912, and Jan 24 1867 - July 4 1912. Note that both died on the same date - independence day 1912. Would be very interested to learn the story of this couple.

EDIT: Thanks to Kyle Brimacombe for solving this: John & Theresa Zimmer were killed in a grueling train wreck in Corning, NY on 4 July 1912 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corning_train_wreck).

 Obelisk-topped monument, monument somewhat eroded, to John Dekin(?) died 1878, a native of Deptford, England. Topped with a masonic symbol.

Grave of George W. Scranton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Scranton), with a long tribute engraved on the monument.

 Grave topped with statue pointing to the heavens. Grave of John S. Gillespie, born 4 Nov 1844, died Apr 12 1932, and Maggie, died Aug 10 1879 aged 28 years 8 months and 24 days. 

Very unusual grave marker for the GRIFFIN  family, stone carved into faux logs and branches.

Angel atop grave marker. Grave of DUCKWORTH family.

 MOLOWNEY grave with Celtic cross.

Delightful font on this HILL family plot marker (HiLL). 

Mourning statue atop large grave monument for EVERHART family.

Both sides of a PLATT family Celtic cross, stating within crucifix at top 'My Faith Looks Up To Thee'. This one connects the above PLATT and SCRANTON family. 

Front (clean): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Born Saybrook Conn. Sept. 17 1816 Died Scranton PA Nov 15 1887. CATHARINE S. SCRANTON HIS WIFE Born Madison, Conn. Apr 1 1822 Died Scranton PA July 4 1887.

Back (dark): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Jr. Born Fair Haven Conn. Jan 9 1845, Died Waterbury NY July 7 1898. KATHARINE J. JONES HIS WIFE, Born Penn ?? NY Apr 28 1846, Died Waterford NY May 28 1934(?).