Eugene Paul Slesinski

Eugene Paul Slesinski of Stroudsburg, Pa., entered into rest on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. He was 77 and had been under the care of Compassionate Care Hospice at his home.

The son of Paul and Emily Wilk Slesinski, he was born Jan. 31, 1935, in Goshen.

Upon completion of his service to the U.S. Army, Gene worked at the Daily Record (now Times Herald-Record) in Middletown. From there he was transferred to the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, Pa.

After a brief stint selling real estate, he worked as a service technician at Parker Oil Company until he purchased Swan’s News in East Stroudsburg, Pa. After renaming and relocating the business, Gene and his family enjoyed 17 years with their Boro News family until his retirement.

Gene was a member of East Stroudsburg Lodge #319 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for 38 years. He served the lodge with distinction in every office on the local, regional and state level, and was a past president of the Pennsylvania Elks State Association. He was also a member of Aerie 1106 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Gene is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy Schilling Slesinski, at home; his daughter, Deborah Soltysiak and her husband Dr. Douglas Soltysiak; son Brian Slesinski and his wife Deborah; daughter Diane Slesinski; grandson Jay Slesinski; step grandchildren Jamie Jahada and Jessie Jahada; great grandchildren Alyssa, Anniston, Anthony, Emily, Hanna and Tess Marie; cousins Genevieve Marshall, Susan Wilk and Paulette Wilk Rudy and husband James, along with several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by daughter Loretta Slesinski and granddaughter Katherine Hales.

Visitation was held Jan. 20 at T. S. Purta Funeral Home, 690 County Route 1, Pine Island.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 21 at St. Stanislaus Church, 17 Pulaski Highway, Pine Island.

Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Pennsylvania Elks Major Projects, Inc., PO Box 1316, Somerset PA 15501-0409, or to Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation, 237 E. Brown St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the T. S. Purta Funeral Home. To send a condolence online, or for directions, please go to www.purtafuneralhome.com.