John J. Shandra

John J. Shandra

July 29, 2022

Mr. John J. Shandra, 84, who proudly lived in Pittston Township, PA, died on Friday at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Ladd Shandra who died in 1970, and his third wife, Mary Ellen Skibber Shandra, who died in 2010.

Born on April 29, 1938 in Pittston, PA, John was the son of the late Samuel and Rose Morreale Shandra, the youngest of six children. They lived in Pittston for many years, and following graduation from Pittston High School, John and his twin brother, Joe, answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956. After being stationed in Europe, he was Honorably Discharged in 1959 and worked for over twenty years at Anemostat as a Graphic Designer for the printing department. He retired from Tobyhanna Army Depot in 1999.

John was an avid football fan, and enjoyed his time working in the family bookmaking business with his late brother, Davey, always rooting for ties. He enjoyed getting dressed up, and he rarely missed a Saturday night out filled with dancing, friends, and fun. John even met his first love, Joyce, at one such dance. He spent many years as a member of the Waldorf Park German Social Club, winning numerous pool league tournaments.  John enjoyed trips to New York City to see Broadway musicals, traveling to Virginia Beach to visit his cousin, Carmen, playing cards like Pinochle and Poker, analyzing the weekly football spread, and going to the Track with his late brother, Salvatore (Jr.). He also enjoyed the Hometown Market with his brother, Smitty, and later, estate sales with his nephew, Joe. No one could “get a better deal” than John.

John was the kindest, most generous person, he made lasting friendships and was well liked by everyone who knew him. He always had a gift for everyone from his back room, and was known to give the shirt off his back to anyone. Family and friends were always most important to him, and he especially loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He had a way of making each person in his life feel special. He never missed Sunday Sauce at his sister, Mal’s house and instilled the importance of these timeless gatherings on his family. He was grateful to spend time with relatives at the annual Wildwood summer beach trip this past June.

He is survived by three daughters, Denise Shandra, and husband James Osborne, Scranton, PA, Laura McCarthy, and husband, Barry, Fort Washington, PA, Stephanie Shandra, and husband, Frank Swietnicki, Scranton, PA, a son, John M. Shandra, and wife, Carrie, Ludlow, VT, a twin brother, Joseph A. Shandra, and wife, Linda, Pittston, PA, a sister, Madeline Shandra Fritz, Pittston, PA, a sister-in-law, Janet Sciandra, Hughestown, PA,  six grandchildren, Isabella and Robert Jensen, Reagan, Maeve and Finn McCarthy, and Alexander John Swietnicki, and countless nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.

He was also preceded in death by brothers, Angelo (Smitty) and wife Marion Shandra, David (Davey) Sciandra, and Salvatore (JR) Sciandra and wife, Cecelia, brother-in-law, David Fritz, niece, Rose Sciandra, nephew Michael Sciandra, and various other beloved family members and friends.

The funeral will be conducted on Friday August 5, 2022, with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 1:30 pm in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William Street, Pittston, PA. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church for the hour preceding services, beginning at 12:30 pm. Interment following, with full military honors, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

Arrangements entrusted to the Frank M. Regan Funeral Home, 323 William Street, Scranton.