Teresa C. Van Fossen (Bukofski)

Teresa C. Van Fossen (Bukofski) was born in Hunlock Gardens to Martin and Jennie (Marcinkiewicz/Sutrynowicz) Bukofski. She was the oldest living of four children, Lillian (who passed away in 1925), Martin (who passed away in 1927), and Leonard (who passed away in 2010).

She was baptized on Nov. 8, 1928, at St. Stanislaus Church in Nanticoke. She attended a country school in Hunlock and graduated from Harter High School, West Nanticoke, in 1946.

Upon graduation, she was offered a position as an animator for Walt Disney because of her artistic abilities. However, that was not considered appropriate at the time, so she took a position at Retreat State Mental Hospital, where she met Charles J. Van Fossen after his return from World War II.

They married in November of 1948, and established their home in West Nanticoke. Soon after, they bore their first child, Charles Martin (who passed away in 1992).

A short time later she bore a daughter, Bonita, and then her husband was deployed to Korea.

Randy (who passed away in 1966) was conceived between Korea and Vietnam, and their youngest son, Brian, was born after her husband’s return from Vietnam.

She volunteered for many years as a Girl Scout Leader in the Nanticoke area, and won many awards for her service.

After the passing of her husband, she continued working as a seamstress from home and performed odd jobs to support the family.

Around this time, she also became a grandmother to seven grandchildren, Shawn, Randy, Corina, Jared (who passed away in 2004), Michael, Jessica, and Chantel.

She volunteered at her parish as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and as a master catechist and Director of Faith Formation (CCD) along with many other ministries.

After her youngest child graduated, she worked as an adopted grandparent at Headstart in Nanticoke and Wyoming Valley West grade schools while caring for her elderly mother. She left West Nanticoke in 2015 to reside in Williamsport.

She quickly became involved at St. Joseph the Worker, particularly the Christian Women. She took up residence at The Williamsport Home Apartments in 2020, where she resided until her passing at the age of 96.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Gene Felch; her son, Rev. Brian Van Fossen; along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; along with many cousins, form an extended family along with all the friends she met along the journey.

Her family welcomes visitors to Crouse Funeral Home, 133 E. Third St., Williamsport, on Thursday, July 24 beginning with the Holy Rosary at 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 702 W. Fourth St., Williamsport on Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Teresa will return to Nanticoke for a visitation on Monday, July 28 at 9:30 a.m., at St. Faustina’s Marian Chapel. A Requiem Mass will be offered at 11am at St. Faustina Parish, 520 S. Hanover St. Nanticoke, PA 18634, before her internment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Nanticoke.

In lieu of flowers, she requests donations to be made to St. Joseph the Worker or St. Faustina Kowalska parishes or a non-profit of your choice.