Josephine M. Yarrish, 104, a resident of St. Therese Residence, formerly of 184 Haverford Drive, Laflin, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

She was born on July 6, 1912, in Wilkes-Barre Township, a daughter of the late John and Mary Knish Balas. Josephine was a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Wilkes-Barre and Bloomsburg Teacher's College, and she received her certification in special education from Misericordia College.

She taught first grade for nine years in Wilkes-Barre Township before she was married. After her husband's death, she served as an elementary teacher at St. Boniface School, Wilkes-Barre. She was later employed as a special education instructor at the Luzerne County Intermediate Unit in Mountain Top and then Wilkes-Barre's Mackin Elementary School.

Josephine was a devoted member of St. Maria Goretti Church in Laflin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B. Yarrish Sr., in 1958. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, John Balas and Joseph and Carl Salonick.

Surviving are her sons, Edward B. Yarrish and his wife, Nancy Hanahue, of Allentown, and David Yarrish and his wife, Barbara Finch, of York; grandsons, Thomas Yarrish and his wife, Daphne, of Cypress, Texas, and Alex Yarrish, of York; great-grandchildren, Tommy and Arianna Yarrish; brother, Francis Salonick and his grandchildren, Tommy and Arianna Yarrish; brother, Francis Salonick and his wife, Marion, of Maryland; sister, Helene Pendzinski, of Camp Hill; numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in St. Maria Goretti Church, 42 Redwood Drive, Laflin. The Rev. James J. Walsh, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Therese Residence, 260 S. Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting Josephine's obituary at www.natandgawlas.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre.