Dorothy Oplansky Piccioni, 87, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, December 28th at Lehigh Valley Medical Center- East as a result of complications due to the COVID-19 virus.
Born May 2, 1934 in Minersville, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Anna (Dragonis) Oplansky.
After graduating from Minersville High School she went on to work as a telephone operator for the former Bell Telephone. She met the love of her life the late John Piccioni and they began dating. They would eventually join in the unity of marriage when John returned from the war. They soon started their family and Dorothy would take on the most rewarding career of her life- being a stay at home mom. She wasn’t just “Mom” to her four children but to all of their friends as well.
After John died in 1983, Dorothy decided to go back to school and earned her Associate’s Degree in Business and worked at the Housing Authority. In her spare time she took on the role as seamstress. For many years she uplifted many lives by helping her customers and by sending them Christmas Cards.
A member of the New Awakenings Evangelical Church, Orwigsburg she was a very spiritual person even her license plate told of her love of the Lord- Psalm 91.
In addition to her parents and husband John (1983), she was preceded in death by a daughter Judith Piccioni Schartel (2018); brother Jerome Oplansky; and sisters Helen Kimmel and Genevive Naugle.
Dorothy’s legacy will forever live on in her children and their families. She is survived by a daughter Jane Droskinis; sons John Piccioni and Joe Piccioni husband of Lynne; grandchildren Heather Bernitsky, Scott Droskinis, Jamie Garcia, Lauren Pastoria, Matthew Piccioni, Dylan Schartel, and Sara Bogue; great grandchildren Evan Bernitsky, Kyla Bernitsky, Samantha Bernitsky, Cora Droskinis, Clark Droskinis, Jaxson Garcia, Kayden Garcia, and Kali Garcia; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects Monday, January 3rd from 9AM to 11:30 AM at the Chapel on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park. A brief funeral service at the Chapel will follow but will be limited to immediate family members only. Those wishing to attend the outdoor graveside services are more than welcome to follow in procession to the gravesite. They may also remain in their vehicles if they choose to do so.
The family has requested that due to Dorothy’s passing due to complications of COVID-19 please wear appropriate face covering, maintain social distancing, limit the number of people paying their respects inside the Chapel at one time keeping the visit short, and refrain from physical contact (hugging or shaking hands).
Funeral services have been entrusted to Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home 515 West Market Street Pottsville. The family would prefer donations be made to the New Awakening Evangelical Church c/o PayPal at New Awakening Church Let’s expand the Kingdom of God (Luke 6:38)! https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WYSJ62T5BYD58&source=url. Please visit schlitzerallenpugh.com to leave a condolence for the Piccioni family.
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