Aaron E. Norakus

August 3, 2023

Aaron E. Norakus passed away unexpectedly on August 3, 2023 after over 48 years of a loving life. He grew up in Plains, PA and lived in Philadelphia at the time of his passing.

Aaron was the proud son of Linda Dominick, Plains and Edward Norakus, Mountaintop.

Aaron graduated from the Saint Mary’s of the Assumption School, Wyoming Seminary, and then Bloomsburg University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Marine Biology.

He was a star athlete and basketball player all through his educational career. Frequently named MVP at numerous tournaments, he scored over 1,000 points at St. Mary’s and over 2,000 points at Wyoming Seminary where he was fittingly nicknamed the “Scoring Machine”. He then attended Bloomsburg University on a full basketball scholarship and was ultimately inducted into both the Plains Sports Hall-of-Fame and Wyoming Seminary Sports Hall-of-Fame. He also played with the Pace Setter Summer Travel League.

While basketball was his true sports passion, he was also a fan of all the Philadelphia professional sports teams and enjoyed attending so many Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles games.

As part of his studies at Bloomsburg, he embarked on a trip aboard the Ka’imimoana Ship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collecting barnacles. This unique experience kept him totally at sea where he traveled as far as Australia and New Zealand. On this trip, he received the rare Shellback Certification indicating the crossing of the Prime Meridian and equator at the same time.

Aaron’s love for the outdoors was clearly evident in his personal hobbies. An avid camper and fly fisherman, he enjoyed fly fishing excursions to Andros Island in the Bahamas and regular trips to Pulaski, NY.

Ultimately, Aaron successfully transitioned into and excelled in medical sales. Most recently, he worked for RS Medical as their Sales Manager for the entire Northeast Region.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Anso (Amos) & Marie Dominick, and Peter & Thelma Norakus; stepmother Carolyn Norakus; uncle Joseph Adamczyk, and aunt Frances Norakus. Also, by his beloved fur nieces, Miso Harris and Mazie Buchanan.

He is also survived by his fiancée, Amanda Buchanan; his “Sisters”, Amy Adamczyk Taylor (Gregory) and Joy Adamczyk Harris (Michael); Aunt, Charlotte Dominick, and Uncle, Ronald Norakus; Stepsisters, Catherine Strauss Malkemes and Estelle Strauss Williams, and their families; Goddaughter, Hyland Crawford; many cousins and his fur babies, Mabel and Edith.

A Celebration of Aaron’s life will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Friends and family are invited to call between 9am-11am at St. Maria Goretti Church, where Aaron served as an altar boy, located at 42 Redwood Drive, Laflin, PA, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Father David Cappelloni, Aaron’s cousin, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the Miso Harris Fund for Canine Cancer Research at the University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital at misoharrisfund.com.

Arrangements entrusted to the Corcoran Funeral Home, Inc., 20 South Main Street, Plains, PA. 18705.