First Posted: 7/22/2013

Joan (Yonelunas) Bahl, 84, of West Wyoming, passed away Sunday, July 21, 2013 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

She was born June 2, 1929, in Pittston, a daughter of the late Constantine and Rosella Valinas Yonelunas. Joan grew up in Falls and graduated from West Pittston High School, Class of 1947. She spent most of her life raising her family in West Wyoming.

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her husband Edward in 1999; her sister Violet Bainbridge in 2000 and her grandson Michael Emerick in 2004.

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She is survived by her children, Joseph Bahl of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. and his daughters Johanna and Julia; Anne Emerick of Chester Springs, Pa. and her husband Gerard and son Matthew; Thomas Bahl of Grand Rapids, Mich. and his partner Tylor Devereaux and son Logan; John Bahl of Perkasie, Pa. and his wife Teri and their children Joshua, Adam and Leah and Mark Bahl of West Wyoming.

She will be remembered by her sisters-in-law Nancy Coskey and Carol Gallo; her “favorite” brother-in-law Ron Gallo; nieces and nephews and her lifelong best friend Kathleen Black Palum Martinelli.

Joan was an avid reader, gardener, bird enthusiast and animal lover.

The funeral was held at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2013 from the Kizis-Lokuta Funeral Home, 134 Church St., Pittston. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 9:30 a.m. by Father Leo McKernan in St. Monica’s Church, 8th Street, West Wyoming. Interment was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton.

In lieu of flowers, Joan requested donations be made to the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.