Joan E. Bergum Zelenky, 78, of Clearfield, passed away May 30, 2012 at the DuBois Regional Medical Center, DuBois.
She was born on June 8, 1933 in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of James and Anne (Pitt) Higgins.
Joan was Catholic by faith.
She was known in the area for her many years of poodle trimming and as a flea market vendor. She had been a vendor at the Clearfield County Fair from 1976 to 2001. She was co-owner and operator of Haines Haven Kennels for 18 years. She previously worked for New York Telephone Co., she had also been owner of The Treasure Shop, and most recently spent her days selling on E-bay. Joan was a true entrepreneur.
Joan is survived by 5 children; Bonnie Barton and her husband Stephen of Atlanta, GA, Elizabeth “Betsy” Guglielmo and her husband Michael of Virginia Beach, VA, Patrick Bergum and his wife Tina of Clearfield, Sherrie Surkovich and her husband James of Clearfield and Alan Haines and his wife Sylvia of Virginia Beach, VA, two step sons; Robert Zelenky and his wife Kim and Randy Zelenky, seven grandchildren; Brandy Bergum and her companion Gary Dennis, Kara Bergum, Christopher Guglielmo and his wife Kristen, Kyle Guglielmo, Stephen Barton and his fiance Britton Rowe and Diana Barton, Emily Farrara, three step grandchildren: Matthew Zelenky, Danielle Zelenky and Lacie Zelensky, a great grandson, Aiden Dennis, a sister, Anna Callahan of Tondawanda, NY and many nieces and nephews. Christmas was always a very special time, as this was the annual occasion that the whole family came together at “Grandma Joan’s”.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Arthur Paul Bergum, who passed away May 13, 1963, her third husband, Robert Lawrence Zelenky, who passed away May 8, 2003, a daughter, Rebecca Bergum, a brother, Robert Higgins and two nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc., of Clearfield on June 2 at 10:00 a.m. with Msgr. H. Desmond McGee officiating. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery.
Friends will be received at the funeral home on June 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of services.
The family suggest contributions be made to the St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 South Front Street, Clearfield, PA 16830 or Marian House.
To send an online tribute goes to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.
