Obituaries

Leslie Della Croce

Leslie (Gower) Della Croce, 62, passed away at home on Saturday, January 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family after a brief fight with cancer.

Leslie was born December 12, 1960, to Edgar “Doc” Gower and Louise (Skollar) Gower. She graduated from MMI Preparatory School in 1978 and attended Marywood University, prior to obtaining her nursing degree from the Hazleton Area School of Practical Nursing. Leslie’s nursing career spanned four decades. She loved her profession and treated her patients with the greatest respect and care. Leslie retired from nursing in 2020 due to health issues, but most recently worked at The Laurels Senior Living Community in Hazleton.

She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Richard J. Della Croce; daughters, Natalie (Michael) Best, and Leah (Steven); sons Kenneth (Ailyn), and Richard Patrick; as well as her beloved grandchildren, Abby and Alex Best. Also surviving are brothers, Edgar Gower Jr. (Joan), Gregory (Jill), and Charles (Connie); and aunts, Belva Meckes and Rosalie (Paul) Simko; numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be conducted on Friday, January 27, at 9:30 a.m. from the Lehman Family Funeral Service, Inc., 403 Berwick Street, White Haven, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church, White Haven. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.