Obituary of Lena Tome

Lena (Grillini) Tome, formerly of Plains Township, passed into her eternal life on Monday, October 23, 2023, two weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Born on November 5, 1923, in Wilkes-Barre, she was the sixth of seven children born to Raffaele and Leonora Speranza Grillini. She married William L. Tome in 1946, and they were anticipating their seventy-fifth wedding anniversary when he passed in 2021. A graduate of Meyers High School, Lena was employed at Grillini’s Market, Spinning Wheel, Ruth Jones Candy Company, Carol Dress Company, and Leslie Faye Inc, from which she retired in 1989. She was a member of the I.L.G.W.U. Family was the core of her existence. Her generous and caring heart made Lena a much-loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and aunt. She was an exceptional cook and baker, known particularly for her homemade pizza, pasta, and other Italian specialties, as well as her traditional Sunday dinners and pies. She was preceded in death by her father Raffaele Grillini; mother Leonora (Speranza) Grillini; beloved husband, William L. Tome; brothers Sherman and Marino Grillini; step-sister Mary Cappellini; sisters Amelia (Grillini) Serafini; Adeline (Grillini) Zawada; Elizabeth (Grillini) McCormick, and Marion (Grillini) Lipenski. Lena is survived by daughter Carol Ann, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the entire medical staff and facility personnel at Wesley Village for the loving care they provided to Lena for so many years. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Endowment Fund of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 35 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 18701, or Blue Chip Animal Refuge, 974 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA, 18612. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation at the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark Street, Plains, this Friday, October 27,2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lena’s funeral service will follow led by the officiant Rev. Timothy Alleman, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Interment will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Twp.