Marcelle G. Kraynak

April 3, 1944 - February 3, 2022

Marcelle (Kane) Kraynak

Marcelle (Kane) Kraynak, 77, of Freeland, passed away Thursday after battling COVID-19 for several weeks. Born in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Bernice (Weinberg) Kane.
Marcelle earned an associate degree from Lackawanna College and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Hazleton area. She was honored as the American Cancer Society’s Nurse of Hope in 1989. She was also the founder of Silent Santa, an all-volunteer-run organization that provided toys and other gifts to hundreds of local children each year.
She loved being with her family, and her greatest source of joy were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was the most selfless and caring person you would ever meet, always worrying about everyone else. It was very fitting that her last words – said to one of her children – were “Are you okay?” and “Be careful.”
An avid reader, she especially loved books by her favorite authors, Janet Evanovich and Danielle Steel. Those close to her knew it would be futile to try and call her when Dancing with the Stars was on, as she never missed a moment of that show she enjoyed so much.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Kraynak, in 2014; her sister, Anne, in 2018; and her sister-in-law, Blanca Kane, in 2015.
She will be deeply missed by her children: Marylin Kotansky and her husband, Jeff; Joe Kossmann and wife, Maggie; Bobbi Dempsey and husband, Jack; and Bill Kossmann and wife, Alice. Also mourning her loss are her beloved grandchildren: Virginia Eichhorst, and husband, Gary; Jeffrey Kotansky, Jr.; Crystal Kotansky; Joseph Kossmann; Joshua Kossmann; Amanda Kossmann; Mariah Kossmann; Cassandra Kossmann; Christine Baugh Mitchell and husband, Jonathan; John Dempsey; Nick Dempsey; and Brandon Dempsey.
She is also survived by siblings Richard Kane; Roberta Kane; Regina Lyons; Geraldine Jones and husband, Stan; Patrick Kane; and great-grandchildren Serena Eichhorst; Anthony Eichhorst; Haven Kossmann; Liam Kossmann; Chase Kossmann; and Brayden Kossmann.
McNulty Funeral Home in Freeland is handling the arrangements. A private memorial service will be held by the family at a future time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her honor be made to the American Cancer Society or the Hazleton Animal Shelter.