Mary Ann Yarasavage Keller of Tunkhannock died on Sunday June 12. The world is a little less bright tonight.

Born to Adam and Ann Vaskas Yarasavage on June 30, 1949 in Meshoppen, she graduated from Tunkhannock High School, class of 1967, and Lebanon Valley College in 1971 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. After completing an internship at Geisinger, Danville, she worked in their laboratory blood bank until 1973. She was then employed by Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock full time until 1982. For the next several years, she was a part time employee while raising her son, Adam Ambrose Keller. In November of 2006, Mary Ann helped start the laboratory at the Geisinger Clinic in Tunkhannock, retiring in 2012.

A women of many interests, she enjoyed nature. A resolute organic gardener, she canned soup and many fruits and vegetables. Her flower gardens beautified her yard and added color to the landscape. She wasted nothing, as every day was Earth Day to her.

Local lakes, rivers and creeks provided places to kayak and on many weekends she could be found with groups of friends paddling, picnicking and laughing.

Mary’s travels took her through much of the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the Caribbean, Mexico and Spain.  She spent much time exploring New York City enjoying Broadway shows, museums and fabulous restaurants.

Always community minded, she was a member of the Tunkhannock Business and Professional Women’s Organization for 35 years. She served on all committees and was president for two years. She also was currently on the Washington Township Zoning Committee and the Nativity B.V.M Cemetery Committee. Until her health prevented it, she was a Eucharistic Minister for the dear residents of Golden Living Center.

Surviving are her son, Adam Ambrose Keller and her closest friend, her sister, Brenda Y. Brogan, She often said that she never could have survived the last two years without Brenda. Surviving also are one uncle: Edward Yarasavage of Tunkhannock; two aunts: Helen Vaskas Leoni of Wilkes-Barre, and Mary Yarasavage Dodson of Whitesboro, TX; one niece: Arissa Brogan Lynam, of Henderson NV.; two grandnieces and three grandnephews; many dear friends and cousins. Also  surviving is Todd Lewis Keller.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Ann Vaskas Yarasavage; grandparents Simon and Michaelena Yarasavage, and Joseph and Anna Vaskas; many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Memorial Mass will be Saturday, June 18th, at 11 am from Nativity B.V.M. Church with Father Patrick Albert officiating. Friends may call at Harding-Litwin Funeral Home 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock on Friday, June 17th, from 4 to 7pm. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family at Pieta Cemetery.