Judy Lynne Zaczek Van Sickle

Judy Lynne Zaczek of Old Forge, PA, formerly of Whiting, NJ, passed away Sunday, February 12, in the ICU at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton.

Lynne was a bank teller for Commerce Bank, later TD Bank. Early in her adult life, she had been an office assistant for Johnson & Johnson.

Active in her community, Lynne used her powerful people skills to help her friends and neighbors. She was quick to volunteer for a variety of organizations, including a stint as an EMT with fire companies in the communities where she lived.

As a second-year resident of Pine Ridge South senior living community, Lynne became president of the homeowners’ organization. She planned and coordinated a variety community- and age-related activities. Lynne was especially proud of her training in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in Toms River, NJ. CERT volunteers assist first-responders when an emergency event threatens public safety, health and welfare.

In 2009, when her medical condition made it impossible for her to live alone, Lynne was transported to the Julia Ribaudo home in Lake Ariel, PA. Although many people consider nursing homes the end of someone’s life, That was certainly not true of the therapists and staff at Julia Ribaudo; they determinedly set out to help bring back Lynne’s independence. They gave her the attention she needed to recover well enough to have her own car and apartment.

Lynne credited Dr. Patrick Murnin, who treated her at Ribaudo’s, for saving her life at least four times. “Dr. Pat,” as she loved to call him, found the right treatments for her and sent her for the mammogram that diagnosed breast cancer soon enough for her to become a survivor. She frequently said that she would move back to NJ if she could take Dr. Pat with her.

Recently a resident of Old Forge Manor, Lynne found a perfect home for the last two years of her life. She thrived in the Manor’s home-like atmosphere. She quickly found her footing, charming the staff and residents with her vitality and dependability. She joined the PEER program, helping other residents find solutions to problems and mentoring new residents as they arrived.

Judy, born in Staten Island, was the daughter of Francis VanSickle and Geraldine Bacci Van Sickle.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to the Maplewood Fire Company, in honor of Lynne’s paternal grandfather, Leroy Van Sickle, a charter member of Maplewood’s fire company.

She will be entombed in Whiting Memorial Park’s Mausoleum, where her husband of 19 years, Joseph A. Zaczek, has been awaiting her since 2008.

Lynne’s surviving cousins are grateful to the James family of the James Wilson Funeral Home for making the arrangements.

There will be a memorial Mass March 15 ^th at 1:00pm at the Old Forge Manor 246 S. Main St. Old Forge, PA 18518.