Jerrie Ann Tokarz

Jerrie Ann Wakely Tokarz died peacefully at home in Blossburg on September 15, 2023. She was born February 3, 1943, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where her father, James Robert Wakley was stationed. Her mother was Janet Beverly (Reid) Wakley Guy. She spent much of her life in Westfield, Blossburg, and Morris Run, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Roberta Wakley Thompson, and her first husband Ronald “Judge” Hodder. 

Jerrie is survived by her loving husband Bernard Tokarz. They were married late in life and enjoyed their homes in Zephyrhills, Florida, and Blossburg. She is also survived by her sons Ronald Hodder of Blossburg and Marc (Kim) Hodder of Honesdale, PA; grandchildren Shea and Jacob Hodder of Honesdale, PA; and a sister, Beverly Guy Jones of Blossburg; and many nieces and nephews. She was particularly close with Heidi Jones of Buffalo, Brenda Satterlee of Mansfield, and Penny Whetstone of Seymore, Tennessee.

Jerrie was a long-time parishioner at St. James Episcopal Church in Mansfield, and served on the board of trustees. She was a 1960 graduate of Blossburg/North Penn Junior-Senior High School and remained close with many classmates. She held a master’s degree in special education from Mansfield University and was very proud of her many years teaching troubled children at the Laurel Youth Services program at the former Blossburg State Hospital. She also taught at Blossburg/North Penn and Canton schools. More recently she enjoyed riding her tricycle in the Zephyrhills community and crafting holiday and birthday cards to send to friends and family across the country.

A celebration of life will be held at Freeberg Funeral Home at Saturday, September 23, 2023. The visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with services starting at 4:00 p.m. Jerrie’s ashes will be interred at Arbon Cemetery next to her father, James Robert Wakley. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Jerrie’s memory to Blossburg Memorial Library, 307 Main St. Blossburg, PA 16912, https://blossburgmemoriallibrary.com/ or Blossburg Fire and Ambulance Association, 324 Main St., Blossburg, PA 16912.

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