4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA February 21, 2002 Pillarellas (continued from page 1) leftovers so he would have something to eat. It touched me deeply. I said then that if I ever .got home, I would get a job where 1 could help people. Through the war years I had seen enough hate. I decided then and there that I wanted to be- come a minister. “ He told Edith, who told her father. They regis- tered Pillarella at Bloomfield Col- lege before he even got home. There was a time during his college years that Rev. Pillarella was sent back to high school in the evening when they discov- ered that he needed some re- quired math courses. “I sat in a classroom full of young kids to take my regents, but there were also some other vets in the group. After I completed my work at Bloomfield College, I went on to Bloomfield Theologi- cal Seminary to study in the ministry.” Mrs. Pillarella graduated from Bloomfield College in 1941 with a major in English. She worked at a New York City insurance company for a time. She had a love for books and education and decided to attend the Pratt Insti- tute, where she received her cer- tificate as a professional librari- an in 1945. She went on to work at the New York public library for 10 years. “From the library windows I could see the ships come and go,” she said. “Andy and six of my eight brothers were over there. Andy didn’t get home until February of 1946 be- cause he stayed after the war for many months as part of the army of occupation.” The Pillarellas moved to Penn- sylvania in 1954. Rev. Pillarella served the Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston until 1962 preaching every Sunday in Ital- ian. “Then I was asked to be- come the organizing pastor to form a Presbyterian Church in the Back Mountain,” he said. “With more than 100 charter members, Trinity Presbyterian Church on Irem Road was born and will celebrate its 40th an- niversary in June.” “We have such fond memories of those early days,” said Mrs. Pillarella. “We bought this house because it had a large finished basement where many of the church meetings and choir prac- tices were held before we had the church building. It wasn’t easy with three children and’all the comings and goings, but it was well worth it. Our children and their families are still members of Trinity.” Rev. Pillarella served at Trinity until his semi-retirement in 1989. He now serves three smaller churches, Inkerman Presbyterian Church, First Pres- byterian Church, Pittston, and Plains Presbyterian Church, preaching three sermons every Sunday. Mrs. Pillarella enjoyed 23 years in early childhood educa- tion at Wyoming Seminary. She retired as a teacher emeritus. In 1972 she organized the Trinity Nursery School, which is now known as the Trinity Learning Center. She was a full-time teacher and the director until her retirement in 1989. “I want- ed to establish a place where children could learn in a Christ- ian environment,” she said. “And today there are more than 80 children attending the school.” The Pillarellas have been and remain active in community or- ganizations. Rev. Pillarella has been a member of the Dallas Ro- tary since 1962 and founded the Children’s Shopping Spree. He served more than 20 years on the Luzerne County Mental Health Association Board and served as its president. He founded Camp Lackawanna in the early sixties, and served as moderator of the Presbytery, the governing body of the Presbyter- ian Church. He has served as the chaplain at the Irem Temple for more than 30 years. Mrs. Pillarella volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels, served as a Sunday School teacher and youth group volunteer, and was an active member of the Women of Trinity. She also served as the moderator of the Evangelical Committee at Presbytery. Rev. Pillarella is the son of the late John and Mary Pillarella and has two sisters and one brother. Edith Pillarella is the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Joseph S. and Emma DeRogatis Rev. Andrew and Edith Pillarella in 1942. The couple celebrates their 60th wedding anniversary today. and has eight brothers. They have three daughters, Beth Faer- ber, Julie Sgarlat and Mary Mar- tin, and five grandchildren, Kris- ten Faerber, Carl Jr., Andrew and Aime Sgarlat and Meredith Martin. The Pillarellas have enjoyed al- most seven decades together. “I'm happy to have her as my wife,” said Rev. Pillarella. “If it were not for her, where would I be? She helped me and encour- aged me to go back to school to pursue my dreams. I want to preach the gospel of love as long as He gives me the strength and" ability - to do it. I have been blessed in many ways, especially ‘at bookstore Trinity Church to hold fund-raiser EAR Taste 9f/Home C00 SCHOOL nn vB OMIMART SCHOOLS. Watch the DALLAS POST for details The Mission Outreach Committee of the Trinity Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Customers who shop during that time and check out at the register decorated with balloons will automatically have a percentage of their sale donated to Trinity's mission fund which spon- sors various charitable projects throughout the year. Kim will be cooking April 25, 2002 r \ MasterCard. J “= CHARGE IT! | VISA me eae The Post now accepts Visa & Mastercard for all your subscriptions, classified ads, and display ads. For maximum convenience, call our office at 675-5211 with your account and we will set you up immediately. The Dallas Post » 675-5211 The Luzerne Conservation Dis- trict is offering a variety of tree and shrub seedlings for sale this spring. So as not to compete with local nurseries and garden centers, the district will be offer- ing a selection of plant materials that are either native to the Back Mountain or are of conser- vation value, such as food and cover for wildlife, wind or solar protection, foliage or flower col- or, erosion control or timber val- ue. A wildflower seed mix is also available form the Luzerne Con- servation District. All proceeds from the Luzerne Conservation District's seedling sale will benefit the District's en- evening will be Mr. Wendell Jones. at the door. Community Projects. with a wonderful family who all live in the area.” “I would like to be remembered for helping people,” said Mrs. Pil- larella. “My church and my fami- ly are very important to me, and I would like to be remembered by the children I have taught along the way.” Rev. Pillarella sums up their lives of service in one simple phrase. “If you don’t pull the rope, the bell won't ring.” 2179. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 15. Seedlings, wildflowers on sale at Conservation District vironmental education efforts. These include the Luzerne County Envirothon, Conserva- tion Field Days and various oth- er educational programs. Orders are being accepted now through March 27. Planting guidelines for placement, planti- ng, and care of seedlings and wildflowers will be available upon pickup on Saturday, April 27. For more information regard- ing the Luzerne Conservation District's annual seedling sale, or to receive an order form, please contact Amy Zerbe, Envi- ronmental Education Coordina- & ¢ tor, at 674-7991 or via e-mail at @ LCD education@hotmail.com. Civil War Roundtable sets meeting The Wyoming Valley Civil War Roundtable will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 21 in the downstairs of the Dallas American Le- gion (across from Pickett's Charge). The guest speaker for the Mr. Jones is a member of the Civil War Roundtable. He will speak on “Grierson’s Raid” which was ordered by General Grant to divert military forces of the South away from Vicksburg. Refreshments will be served after the presentation. Harveys Lake Protective Association party The Harveys Lake Protective Association will hold their inaugural “Winter Warm-Up” Pizza Party And Silent Auction at Grotto Pizza from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. The event is open to the pub- lic. The menu consists of pizza, stromboli, hoagies, dessert, soda, coffee and tea. Alcoholic beverages will be available at a cash bar. The cost is $8 per person if paid by Feb. 20, or $9 after Feb. 20, or) Any business or individual wishing to donate an item to be auc- tioned, or to make a reservation, may contact Debbie Sobeck at 639- 5515. All proceeds will benefit Harveys Lake Protective Association Senior tax program to be held on March 5 The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program will be from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 at the Dallas Senior Center. Seniors are asked to bring all W-2’s, 1099's, Social Security infor- mation and any other form showing income and a copy of last year's {gy income tax return. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 675- Booths available for flea market The Auxiliary of The Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas, have booths available for the annual “Market on the Pond” flea market Prime-for-Life'! Open your line of credit with a balance of $25,000 or more, and get: i) APR current indexed rate 0 with no closing costs \d Scranton Offices: Keyser Ave. 343-1211 Minooka 341-5555 Spruce St. 558-3660 Wyoming Ave. 961-2402 Local Branches: Carbondale 282-9390 Clarks Summit 587-0575 Daleville 842-5715 Dickson City 307-7500 Jermyn 876-6500 Jessup 489-4736 Kingston 331-0412 specifically listed herein. 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