Nancy Farkas

Nancy Schmitt Farkas, age 63, Waverly, died Sunday, at Geisinger Community Medical Center. She was the loving wife of 36 years to John A. Farkas, Ph.D., and mother to John Anthony Farkas Jr.

Born Sept. 11, 1954, in York, she was the daughter of the late Paul Schmitt and Helen Stapleton Schmitt. She graduated from West Point High School, West Point, Va., and then received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from King's College, Wilkes-Barre. She was a faithful member of St. Peter's Cathedral.

Nancy served previously as executive director of the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Scranton, and continued to serve as a member of the board after her tenure. As a community activist, she was also a trustee of Meals on Wheels of Northeast PA, the American Red Cross Northeast PA Chapter and Ballet Northeast. She also volunteered for the Lackawanna Historical Society.

Nancy loved music and the arts, especially her involvement with the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic. She had a talent for interior design, enjoyed reading, spending time with her family and visiting Avalon, N.J., Peddler's Village and Williamsburg, Va. She also loved her dogs, Emma and Dylan. Nancy was a loving and supportive wife and mother, a philanthropist and was always there to help someone in need. She will be deeply missed by the lives she touched with her kindness and love.

She is survived by her husband, John A. Farkas, Ph.D., Waverly; a son, John Anthony Farkas Jr., Scranton; two brothers, Lee and wife, Bea, Dallas, Texas; and Paul and wife, Sharon, Bethlehem; a sister, Barbara Schmitt and husband, David Morgan, Clarks Summit; and nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a sister, Maurie Mullen; and parents, Hellen and Paul Schmitt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., celebrated by Monsignor David L. Tressler.

The family will receive relatives and friends Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. before Mass.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

Due to Nancy's love for the arts, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Scranton Fringe Festival, with checks made payable to Fractured Atlas, Scranton Fringe in the subject line, and may be sent to: Scranton Fringe Festival, P.O. Box 1235, Scranton, PA 18501.