Gill Joyce Genealogy

Thomas Gill (1879-1961)

PITTSTON

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gill have returned from their honeymoon and have taken up their residence in a newly furnished home in Parsons. Mrs. Gill was formerly Miss Margaret Gilroy, of South Main street.

   The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - July 25, 1912


World War I Draft Registration Card

Name Thomas Gill
Address 306 Matson
City or Town Parsons
County Luz.
State Pa.
Age 37
Date of Birth December 21, 1880
Race White
U. S. Citizen Native Born
Present Occupation Merchant
Employer's Name Himself
Place of Employment 202 Geo. Ave.
Place of Employment Parsons
Place of Employment Borgh., Pa.
Relative Margaret Gill
Rel. Address 306 Matson
Rel. Address Parsons Brg. Pa.
Date of Regristration September 12, 1918

   World War I Draft Registration Card - 1918


Thomas Gill, 80, Dies;
Funeral To Be Tuesday

Funeral services for Thomas Gill, 80, pioneer Parsons resident and a member of a prominent Wyoming Valley family, will be held Tuesday morning at the Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Parsons

A High Mass of Requiem will be celebrated in St. Dominic's Church, Parsons. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover.

Mr. Gill, who resided at 99 Govier Street, had been ill for some time. He was the father of a priest, nun, physician, lawyer and merchant.

Deceased was the son of the late John and Mary Nolan Gill. He was born and reared in Parsons, where he operated the Gill Grocery Store for over a half century. For the last 15 years, he has been associated in business with his son Francis.

At the time of his death he was Vice President of the Keystone Building and Loan Association. He was a founder and director of the North End State Bank.

A member of St. Dominic's Church since it was established in 1883, Mr. Gill actively participated in Holy Name Society affairs.

Surviving are his wife, the former Margaret Gilroy of Pittston and these sons and daughters: Rev. Nicholas Gill, CP, Union City, N. J.; Sister M. Marita, Immaculate Heart Order, a faculty member at West Side Central Catholic High School, Kingston; Dr. John J. Gill, X-ray specialist, of Forty Fort; Atty. Thomas F. Gill, city, and Francis Gill, Parsons. He also leaves a brother and sister, Richard Gill, Parsons and Sister M. Ricarda, Immaculate Heart Order, Carbondale, and 19 grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home today and tomorrow from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 P. M.

   Sunday Independent (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - April 23, 1961


GILL FUNERAL IS HELD TODAY

Son Officiates At Merchant’s Rites

Scores of priests and nuns joined with friends and business associates in final tribute today to Thomas Gill, prominent Parsons merchant and civic leader.

Mr. Gill, who was the father of a priest, a nun, a lawyer, a doctor and a merchant succumbed Saturday morning at his home, 99 Govier Street. Funeral was held from the Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Avenue.

His son, Rev. Nicholas Gill, CP, was celebrant of the Solemn Requiem Mass in St. Dominic’s Church, Parsons; Rev. Charles Carroll was deacon, and Rev. Leo Gilroy, a brother-in-law, was sub-deacon. Rev. Fintan Lombard CP., was master of ceremonies. Eileen McDowell was organist.

The services were attended by 75 priests of the Scranton Diocese and Passionist Order. Delegations of the latter were in attendance from Union City, N.J., Jamaica, N.Y., and Scranton.

Also in attendance were more than 50 nuns of various orders, including a daughter, Sister M. Marita, Immaculate Heart Order, faculty member of West Side Central Catholic High School, Kingston, and a sister, Sr. M. Ricarda, a member of the same order, Carbondale. In addition to a delegation of the Immaculate Heart Sisters, the Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Christian Charity, and Bernardine Sisters were represented.

Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township, where Rev. Father Gill, assisted by the officiating and visiting clergy, pronounced final benediction.

Pallbearers, grandsons, were Thomas Gill, Jr., Francis Gill, Jr., John Gill, Jr., Nicholas, Robert and Michael Gill.

   Unknown Newspaper (Sister Marita Gill’s files) - April 26, 1961


Acres of Diamonds Here

During death claimed four citizens who not only found their Acres of Diamonds in Wyoming Valley, but who commanded widespread respect among neighbors and with the general public.

Thomas Gill, a pioneer in the Parsons section, was a successful businessman and prominent figure in the financial community who left an impressive record in these capacities as well as being the father of a priest, a nun who is an educator, a doctor of medicine who is an X-ray specialist, an attorney and a businessman.

Solomon C. Coldren, a native of Nortumberland County, who grew up in Miners Mills and subsequently resided in Parsons and Dallas, was an executive with the Miner-Hillard Milling Company at the time of his retirement. His outside activities embraced civic affairs, religion, Masonry and the YMCA in all of which he held responsible posts. He leaves a daughter who is widely known in musical circles and a son who is an executive with one of America's leading concerns.

William E. Bonnice, a native of Plymouth and a former resident of Dallas and Kingston, easily qualified for a place among the leading residents of Forty Fort at the time of his death. There he operated a store, bearing his name, in association with two of his sons.

While not so long on the scene as the others, Nicholas Tangerakis, Kingston, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident, earned a place in the category by virtue of his success in the restaurant business, first as operator of the Rainbow in Kingston and later as night manager of the Embassy in Wilkes-Barre. After emigrating from Greece to America, a journey of 5,000 miles, he worked in New York and Norristown before coming to Wyoming Valley where he finally found the opportunity that eluded him in his native land, and, incidentally in America's largest city.

In the lives of these men will be found a lesson for the new generation. With comparable ability, initiative, and perseverance, those who are launching careers now or in the near future need go no further than this area to achieve success if they have what it takes.

   Editorial in The Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - April 26, 1961


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