First Posted: 11/4/2014
Catherine Zenke, of Dalton, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 30, was recently honored with a proclamation from Dalton Borough Council and Mayor Aaron Holzman, declaring that day as Catherine A. Zenke Day.
The daughter of John. H. Fellows, the sixth mayor of the City of Scranton, Zenke was nicknamed “Tinka” by her father and referred to by that name by friends and family throughout her life.
According to the proclamation, she married Albert C. Zenke on May 21, 1936 and they had three children: Susan, who of Dalton; Jean Siebecker, of Clarks Summit; and Albert, Jean’s twin, who died in infancy. Albert Zenke died on Aug. 10, 1979.
The proclamation refers to her as “an active and vital community volunteer” who moved to Dalton in 1973.
Some of her many volunteer, community and avocation interests include:
Lackawanna Audubon Society, past treasurer, board member and recipient of the society’s Golden Eagle Award; National Audubon Society, participant in its annual Christmas Bird Count and Pennsylvania Annual Migratory Bird Count; Meals on Wheels, delivery person; Abington Heights Middle School and Dalton Community Library, former library volunteer; former Brownie Leader; former Deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit; active member of Central High School Alumni Association and esource person working with West Scranton High School students on a beautification project at Fellows Park.
“Along with all of her many community activities,” states the proclamation, “Catherine is a ‘people person,’ making it a priority to remember people’s birthdays, sending greeting cards or notes for various occasions and cheering her friends and family with phone calls and visits. And, of course, she lavishes love and attention on all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”