Obituary of Anne G. Shamonsky

Anne G. Shamonsky, 92, of State College died peacefully in the company of two of her daughters on December 12, 2016. She was born in Dalton, May 14, 1924, to Steve and Anastasia Goscinsky, immigrants from the Ukraine. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Matthew T. Shamonsky, who died in 2008, three siblings: Andrew and John Goscinsky and Mary Kotsala and son in-law, Larry Dudley. Anne attended school in Dalton, graduating as valedictorian. She also played basketball and edited the school newspaper. She was an accomplished pianist and also obtained her private pilot's license. She went to secretarial school and became a legal secretary in Newark, NJ, eventually returning to Dalton, where she married and started a family. They became devoted parents to three girls, relocating to Shoemakersville in 1957 and to State College in 1961. Surviving relatives include daughters Ellen Bingham and her husband, Jim, of Rindge, NH; Margaret Shamonsky of Prescott, AZ; and Dorothy Shamonsky and her husband, Andy Bennett, of Lincoln, MA; sister-in-law Dorothy Neskauskas of Santa Fe, NM; granddaughters Julia M. Bingham and her husband, Allan Kraut, Diana D. Hill and her husband, Eric, Emily A. Bingham, Isabel S., Lillian S. and Iris A. Bennett; two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Colin Hill; numerous nieces and nephews; and her cat, Blackie. Also surviving are her lifelong friends from childhood, Virginia Illuzi-Benson of Clarks Summit and Vina Coolbaugh of Manchester, NJ. Anne was a quiet, kind person and a good and gentle mother who cherished the simple things in life. She had a great sense of humor and loved her home. She enjoyed gardening, garage sales, sewing, square dancing, polka dancing, music (especially the song "You Are My Sunshine"), and bowling. She and her husband were active at the Senior Center for many years. She had many devoted caregivers in recent years who helped her stay in her home and enriched her life. Public visitation is Friday, December 16, 1:00-3:00 at Koch Funeral Home in State College. Entombment will be at the Glenwood Mausoleum in Clarks Summit. Memorial gifts may be made to the Save Our Monarchs Foundation (www.saveourmonarchs.org) or to Monarch Joint Venture (monarchjointventure.org). Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.