Esther Pencek

Esther Madeline (Pastoria) Pencek was born in Scranton, PA on December 20, 1924 to Emilia (Muss) and Anthony Pastoria. She was of German and Italian descent. She died peacefully at home at the age of 100 with her family by her side, in Scranton on August 29, 2025.

Esther grew up in North Scranton and was educated in the Scranton schools. In 1942 she married Billy Solsman and in 1943 they had their son Leroy. Billy was tragically killed in WWII, leaving Esther widowed with their young son to raise as a single mom.

After the war, her childhood friend, Elmer Pencek courted her, and on August 13, 1949, they were married in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Scranton. Soon after marriage, they moved to Jersey City, NJ, where Elmer began his career in the printing business.

Their daughter Beverly was born in 1950 and then Diane in 1954. In 1961, after Leroy graduated high school and joined the US Marines, they moved to New Milford, NJ where Esther worked in the school cafeteria until she worked in the bank. They enjoyed many happy years in New Milford as active members of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, with a rich social and extended family life.

After their children grew up, moved out, and Elmer retired from his corporate job in printing, they moved to Honesdale, PA to open a small printing shop with their nephew Edward and his wife Elaine, while Esther worked at the local Wayne Bank, where she was known as “Tilly the Teller” for her speedy cash counting.

In 1982 they officially retired and built their new home in the very neighborhood in which they grew up in North Scranton. They lived a very happy and fulfilling life there with family, friends and an active lifetime membership with Immanuel Lutheran Church, where Esther was involved with the Ladies Aid and Braille Bible printing. She found great joy in living next to 3 of their young grandchildren. Every year she and Elmer would travel to California for an extended stay to visit their daughters and their other 2 young grandchildren.

Esther was musically talented, having taught herself how to play the piano, guitar and accordion. She loved to laugh, sing and dance. She could not sit still and was always cooking, sewing, helping with the grandkids or shopping at the mall, which she loved! She was the social butterfly of the family, making friends and helping wherever she went, which was greatly appreciated during her time in California! She always said she was not delicate and so would not allow the attention she deserved, yet she gave and gave. It did not take much to keep her happy. Just to be around people and the comfort of her home life, with occasional travel, was all she needed. Oh, and candy, how she loved her candy! Most of all, she loved being around family and was the most dedicated and understanding mother and grandmother.

Esther is survived by her 3 children, Leroy Solsman (Kathy), Dr. Beverly Pencek (who was her caregiver for the last 13 years), and Diane Abraham (the late Glen); her 5 grandchildren, Alicia Solsman, Ryan Parry (Tiffany), Lee Michael Solsman (Lisa), Kyle Abraham (Marek), and Deserae Dahlgren (Kyle); and 9 great grandchildren, Emily, Christopher and Ivy Solsman, Olivia and Riley Parry, Dominic and Atalie Abraham, and Taj and Dax Dahlgren, as well as many extended family members, friends and neighbors.

Her husband of 68 years, Elmer, as well as her 2 sisters, Viola Booth and Betty Tarnowski, preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, September 8th with the service starting at 11 a.m. in Immanuel Lutheran Church, 238 Reese St., Scranton, with Rev. John Zimmerman, pastor, as officiating clergy. 

Internment will be conducted at Evergreen Cemetery, Dickson City.