First Posted: 1/13/2013

Gerald G. Patyk, 73, a resident of Swoyersville and formerly of Forty Fort, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 6, 2013, at Hospice Community Care Inpatient Unit, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, surrounded by his family, following a lengthy illness.

His loving and devoted wife is the former Eunice Urban. Together, Gerald and Eunice celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 23, 2012.

Born in Kingston, he was a son of the late George and Mary Farris Patyk. Raised in Forty Fort, Gerald was a graduate of Forty Fort High School, class of 1957. Upon graduation, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy and attained the rate of Storekeeper 2nd Class and was honorably discharged July 7, 1960. Prior to his retirement from Sallie Mae in 2001, Gerald was employed by Ortho Pharmaceutical, Raritan, N.J., and Air Products & Chemicals, Hanover Township. He was a member of Holy Family Parish, Luzerne.

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In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Patyk Villano, in 2004; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Connie and Francis Urban.

Surviving are his wife, Eunice; granddaughters, Connie, Katy and Mia Villano; son-in-law, James; sister, Patricia, Florida; sister-in-law, Joan Urban John, Dallas; brother-in-law, Frank Urban and wife, Joan, West Pittston; nieces and nephews, loving niece, Connie John; and his faithful companion – his pet cat, Jenny.

Gerald was a very special man in so many ways and will be deeply missed.

We will always love you, Gerry!

The family offers a special thank-you to the doctors and nursing staffs that cared for Gerry, especially Dr. Susan Sordoni for her most compassionate care.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Holy Family Parish Church, Bennett Street, Luzerne, with the Rev. Michael Zipay, his pastor, officiating. Interment was in Denison Cemetery, Swoyersville.

Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to Holy Family Parish or the Luzerne County SPCA, 524 E. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. For any additional information or to send the family and online message of condolence, visit the funeral home website at www.hughbhughes.com.