Nancy Lahoda-Beautz

Nancy Lahoda Beautz, 92, of Thompson, died Monday at the Forest City Nursing Center, where she was a resident for the past four and a half years. She was the widow of the late Stanley "Slicky" Beautz.

Born in Scranton on January 7, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Jacob and Kathryn Preama Lahoda.

Nancy lived in Scranton until the early 1930's when her family, due to hard times and the Great Depression bought a farm and moved to Thompson. Times were hard but the family survived. Nancy's fondest memories include swimming, bringing in the hay, and family picnics in the summer; Picking apples, potatoes, and "kapusta" (cabbage), and storing them for winter; and walking on snow as high as telephone poles in the winter. She always said they had a comfortable home and her mother liked fine things like linens and beautiful hats.

She was a graduate of Preston Park High School, met and married her husband, Stanley in 1937, and had her first son, Eugene, in 1938. She put her ambition of becoming a nurse on hold and the family moved to New York City where work was plentiful in during WWII. Her second son Michael was born in 1944, and in 1947 the family moved to Susquehanna where they owned and operated Sherman Lodge. Her third son, Edmund, arrived in 1949 and after her husband died in 1954, she sold the lodge and moved to Thompson, where she began a 50 year career in real estate. She loved the business, especially the people and their stories. Nancy had a passion for feeding anyone who came to visit or do business. Even dogs and other animals around Thompson knew they could find a meal at Nancy's home. She didn't like to waste anything.

She always said the one thing she felt best about accomplishing in life was having her children, and the one thing she always wanted to do but didn't, was to become a pilot. She was proud that her grand daughter, Alison, did learn to fly.

Her strong, generous, and sharp presence will be greatly missed, but remembered for the hard working, persevering values she instilled in us. She was one of a kind, irreplaceable, and will be missed dearly.

She was a member of St. Paul's Church, Starrucca, Her family helped found St. Mary's Russian Cemetery, Thompson, where Nancy was instrumental in helping keep the cemetery beautiful.

The family would like to thank Jerry Franceski and the staff at the Forest City Nursing Center for their competent, thoughtful, and caring support.

Surviving are three sons, Eugene and wife Lynne, Binghamton, NY; Michael and wife Janet, CA; and Edmund and wife Carol, Uniondale; three brothers Henry, Thompson; Joseph, Cinnaminson, NJ; and Thomas, Boynton Beach, FL; eight grandchildren Liza, Eric, Sara, Luke, Alison, Matthew, Jacob, and Steven; four great grandchildren Isiah, Caroline, Melina, and Mischa.

She was preceded in death by three brothers: Nicholas, Steve, and William; and two sisters Anne Bilak and Helen Stack

Funeral will be Friday at 10:15 am from the Kevin M. Lesjack Funeral Home, 513 Main Street, Forest City, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in St. Paul's Catholic Church, Starrucca. Interment in St. Mary's Cemetery, Thompson. Viewing Thursday from 5-8 pm.

Memorial contributions can be made in Nancy's name for care and maintenance to: St. Mary's Russian Cemetery, c/o Catherine Stack Staros, 25 Jefferson Ave, Thompson, PA 18465.

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