April 22, 2014

AnnMarie Carter, 49, of Phinneyville Road, Ringtown, passed away Tuesday surrounded by 12 of her close friends and family after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Born in Hazleton, Dec. 22, 1964, she was a daughter of Carol McGlynn Austra, Phinneyville, and the late Edward Austra.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Brandonville.

She was a graduate of West Hazleton High School and Bloomsburg University with a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in genetics. She also obtained a master's degree from Wilkes University in computer technology.

A lifelong educator, AnnMarie was the director of technology for the Shenandoah Valley School District and was also adjunct at Penn State, Thomas Jefferson University and Luzerne County Community College during the span of her career. She also taught for 14 years at Mahanoy Area School District in the biology department. She was nominated three times in the top 10 percent of teachers in the United States.

Ann's love and devotion to her family was unconditional and the most important thing to her. She had a love of history, the outdoors and her pets. She was an avid reader and was well traveled.

In addition to her father, AnnMarie was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Austra VanBlargan.

She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Gerald Carter, Phinneyville, and children, Joshua, State College, and Elizabeth and Dorothy, both at home. AnnMarie is also survived by a sister, Amy Gerneth, Ringtown; and maternal grandfather, Theodore McGlynn.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Church, Brandonville, with Pastor Jay Serafin officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. AnnMarie will be laid to rest in Phinneyville Cemetery in Girard Manor at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ringtown Library, St. John's Church, Brandonville, or Celtic Hospice, Wilkes-Barre. Stauffer-Breznik Funeral Home, 412 W. Main St., Ringtown, assisted AnnMarie's family during their time of need.

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