With faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and hope in the Resurrection, we share the news of the passing of John Ninosky, a member of our church in Irvona. After a difficult week on hospice, and after a harrowing battle with cancer, John fell asleep in the Lord peacefully at his home Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the age of 80, surrounded by his loving wife, Nancy, and sister, Cate.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lloyd-Dimmick Funeral Home in Irvona, with a panikhida chanted at its conclusion at 8:00 p.m. The burial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Irvona. Interment will take place the following Monday, December 9 at Resurrection Cemetery in Harrisburg. Friends and family are invited up to St. Michael’s Hall for a mercy meal held in John’s honor after the Saturday service.
We are grateful to God that John could end his earthly life as a member of St. Michael’s, where he reconnected with his beloved church after an extended absence, returning to commune with us when he came to Irvona for hospice care. Though he couldn’t make it physically to our churches, his presence in the parish during his final days was a blessing to those who knew him, and a testament to the gift of repentance offered to us by our Orthodox Christian Faith.
John dedicated much of his life to serving others as a Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Rafacz Ninosky, and his parents, Michael and Helen (Lucas) Ninosky. He is survived by his devoted second wife, Nancy Schumacher, and his children, Joseph and Matthew Ninosky, as well as his brother, Joseph J. Ninosky, and sisters, Dorothy Caskey, Marilyn Cusick (an active member of our parish who receives home visitation), and Cate Hutton, a good friend of our parish. John was also a loving stepfather to Stacey Monroe Augustus, Robyn Duda Rogers (Richard), and Matthew Duda (Heather), and a cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews. His return to the Orthodox Church and his steadfast love for his family remind us of God’s grace and love even in life’s most challenging moments.
In lieu of flowers, Nancy kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Michael’s Church or to the American Cancer Society in John’s memory. A full obituary and an online guestbook will be posted later here.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, John, and for his loving wife, Nancy, as she mourns the loss of her husband. May they find solace from God through your prayers.May John’s memory be eternal!