PITTSTON — The Distinguished Woman Award, although singular, is not awarded to just one individual; it is awarded to two.

For the third year in a row, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network will honor two women from the Greater Pittston area in conjunction with Women’s History Month, which is in March.

The two women being honored are Peggy Burke, 64, and Theresa Colella, 75.

The Distinguished Woman Award is presented in memory of Mary Boylan, the first female vice president executive director of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce who was instrumental in organizing the Women’s Network.

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Michelle Mikitish, executive vice president of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, said both women were chosen based on how they turned simple ideas into big achievements.

“In a lot of ways, it’s the epitome of ordinary becoming extraordinary,” she said. “They’re just doing what’s ordinary to them, but it’s leaving an extraordinary impact on the community.”

Peggy Burke

Currently residing in West Pittston, Burke was born and raised in Pittston and graduated from Pittston Area High School in 1970.

She graduated from Misericordia University with a degree in Dietetics and did a dietetic internship at the New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center, followed by graduate work in nutrition at Marywood University.

After her college days, Burke worked various jobs as a registered dietitian, teaching nutrition education and family health at hospitals

She married her husband Judge Tom Burke in 1981 and became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of their first child.

Never one to stay inactive, Burke started doing volunteer work for the now defunct St. Mary’s Assumption.

“I was the volunteer librarian for 17 years,” she said. “I used to say I’d send (my kids) to school and then volunteer at the library so I could get a peak at them in the hallways.”

Burke became a board member for the Greater Pittston Meals on Wheels and served on it until only recently, she said.

“For many years, I also delivered for Meals on Wheels,” she said. “Those are the kinds of things that kept me busy.”

Perhaps what Burke is known best for is playing a large role in the St. John the Evangelist Care and Concern Ministries, founded in 2007, where she serves as coordinator of the food pantry.

She said it all began for her when she picked up the book “Take This Bread” by Sara Miles.

“It’s about a woman who works in the San Francisco area who opens a food pantry,” Burke said of the book. “I was fascinated by it and started to do research to see how I could open up a food pantry. That became my biggest volunteer endeavor.”

Today, the food pantry serves over 600 families in Greater Pittston.

Burke also teaches knitting with the Knitting Ministry.

In addition of her volunteerism, Burke stays active with her family that includes her husband five children and one grandchild.

Theresa Colella

Colella also resides in West Pittston but was born and raised in Pittston.

She graduated from Pittston High School in 1959 and went right into the working world doing secretary work for Pittston Apparel, which sold women undergarments.

Colella married her husband Frank in 1962 and became a stay-at-home mom after giving birth to their first child in 1963.

It was during that time she re-discovered her love for art.

“I had a little bit of this artist in me,” she said. “I loved art in school and I always wanted to do something.”

Colella took classes and eventually opened a ceramics shop on South Main Street in Pittston called Fashion Ceramics, which she owned for 41 years.

She ran the business side-by-side with her mother, Rose Fasciana, and the two taught classes and displayed art from local artists.

“We had no really formal education of art school or anything,” Colella said. “I just went to as many seminars as I could go to.”

Colella’s mother passed away in 1977 and the storefront burned down in 1978.

Colella taught classes out of her home with no intention of reopening a storefront, but public demand called for her to return to Pittston.

She worked out of a building her father owned on William Street until her South Main Street location was restored and she was able to continue her business.

Today, Colella is retired but still owns the storefront which now houses Paint N’ Pinot.

She’s enjoying retirement and spending time with her family which includes her husband Frank, two children, four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one step-great-granddaughter.

Award ceremony

Burke and Colella will be honored at the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network St. Patrick’s Dinner Tuesday, March 14 at Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter.

“It’s not possible to receive the award without the help of others,” Burke said. “It takes a village of supporters to make things happen.

Colella was hesitant to accept the award at first, but is now honored to receive it.

“I was shocked when they told me they wanted to give it to me,” she said. “I refused at first and told them to give it to someone on Peggy’s staff but, after learning what the award is about, I’m happy to accept it.”

Theresa Colella discusses her life in Pittston at the Pittston Chamber of Commerce in Pittston.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_PSD022617WomensAward2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgTheresa Colella discusses her life in Pittston at the Pittston Chamber of Commerce in Pittston. Sean McKeag | Sunday Dispatch

Award recipient Peggy Burke shares her educational background in the Pittston Chamber of Commerce in Pittston.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_PSD022617WomensAward3-2.jpg.optimal.jpgAward recipient Peggy Burke shares her educational background in the Pittston Chamber of Commerce in Pittston. Sean McKeag | Sunday Dispatch
Greater Pittston Chamber Women’s Network presenting annual Distinguished Woman Award March 14

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

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