Richard Kakareka

August 23, 2023

Richard “Rick” Kakareka, 72 of Plains Township, passed away Wednesday morning, August 23, 2023 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born and raised in South Scranton, PA on September 8, 1950, he was the son of the late Joseph and Madeline (Klein) Kakareka.

Rick was a graduate of Scranton Technical High School, Class of 1969, and was employed as a welder at Garlett Manufacturing, Old Forge, and later at Trion Industries, Wilkes-Barre, until his retirement.

Rick was a devout Catholic, a Pro-Life Advocate and a member of Saints Peter & Paul Church, Plains. He was a talented artist and wood carver.

Through the years, Rick walked miles with his wife Clare, picking up tons of litter on the roads surrounding state parks and game lands.  An avid gardener, fisherman, and hunter, he was a life time member of the NRA and Ducks Unlimited.

He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Kakareka and Robert’s wife Mary Beth Kakareka.

Surviving are his wife of 38 years the former Clare Woolfolk, Plains, four children: Richard Maley and his wife Erin, Fredericksburg, VA, Angela Kakareka, Wilkes-Barre, Shannon Maley and her boyfriend Robert Baldrica, Hughestown, and Dr. Michael Kakareka and his wife, Dr. Monica Scarsella, Richland, MI, grandchildren Kaylee, Lenora, Agatha, and Oliver, great-grandson Carson, sister Shirley Kalwaytis and her husband Jerry, Scott Twp., nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 10:00 am at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains, PA, 18705, with Father John C. Lambert, Pastor, officiating.  Those attending the funeral mass, please go directly to church Saturday morning.  A live stream of the funeral mass will be on Saints Peter & Paul Church FACEBOOK page. Private inurnment will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Twp.  Arrangements entrusted to the Corcoran Funeral Home, Inc., 20 South Main Street, Plains, PA  18705.

Memorial donations may be made to Pennsylvanians for Human Life, 31 Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA  18702 or to St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, in Rick’s memory.