Hudak-O'Shea History

Who We Are

"Celebrating Life Since 1998"

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Hudak-O’Shea Funeral Home was established in 1998 by licensed funeral director and embalmer Donna M. Hudak-O’Shea and her husband, Patrick J. “P.J.” O’Shea. Built on a foundation of compassionate care, the funeral home was created to serve families in the Mid-Valley communities, including Archbald, Blakely, Dickson City, Eynon, Jessup, Mount Cobb, Olyphant, Peckville, Scott Township, and Throop.



Donna, a Peckville native, is a graduate of Valley View High School and the University of Scranton, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. She later received her Funeral Service degree from the esteemed American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City. Donna also holds her National Board Certificate from the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and has been involved in funeral service since 1986.


Her husband, Patrick J. O’Shea, originally from Lake Ariel, holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Scranton, as well as an MBA in Finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Donna and P.J. currently reside in Olyphant and are the proud parents of two children: their daughter, Ashley Miranda, and her husband, Jonathan, along with their grandchildren, Nathan and Madeline; and their son, Patrick.



Over the years, the O’Shea family has been deeply involved in numerous civic, church, and charitable organizations, including Meals on Wheels of Lackawanna County, the Olyphant Lions Club, Olyphant Knights of Columbus, Business & Professional Women’s Club of Peckville, the Lackawanna County Funeral Directors Association (with service on its Board of Directors), the Mid-Valley Women’s Club, the Valley Community Library, and the Raymond Henry American Legion Post and Ladies Auxiliary.

A New Chapter: Continued Tradition


On June 16, 2025, Lawrence A. Gabriel III proudly assumed ownership of Hudak-O’Shea Funeral Home, continuing the mission of personalized, dignified care that has defined the O’Shea family’s legacy since 1998.


Larry brings a deep-rooted commitment to service and a heartfelt approach to funeral care. A third-generation funeral director, he is the grandson of the late Lawrence A. Gabriel, Sr., who established the Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home in Carbondale in 1968. Raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Larry grew up immersed in the values of service, respect, and community, which he now carries forward with integrity and modern insight.


Hudak-O’Shea & Gabriel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., remains independently owned and committed to serving the Mid-Valley communities with the compassion, professionalism, and trust families have come to expect. 


Larry is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Known for his warmth, attention to detail, and steady presence, he considers it a sacred privilege to guide families through their most difficult times. His approach is centered on listening, understanding, and creating meaningful services that reflect the life and legacy of each individual.


Donna M. Hudak-O’Shea continues to serve the community as a licensed funeral director and the funeral home’s supervisor. Her dedication, experience, and gentle care remain a vital part of the team’s service.

Here for You—Like Family

Together, our team remains steadfast in our mission: to serve every family as we would our own—with heartfelt attention, expert guidance, and unwavering care.

 

Whether you are pre-planning for peace of mind or navigating a recent loss, Larry, Donna, and our entire staff are here to support you every step of the way—offering comfort, clarity, and compassion when it’s needed most.

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Online Memorial

We can create a customized, online memorial for you to share with family and friends. The memorial includes the obituary and any photographs you wish to provide. It will serve as a place for visitors to post condolences, share memories, upload photos, and light candles in honor of your loved one.

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Tribute Video

We can produce a personal tribute video that can be played at the service and online. Simply provide us with the photographs you want to include and we will transform them into a video celebration of your treasured memories. DVDs or digital files of the video are also available.

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Ordering Flowers

We make it easy for friends and family to send flowers to your home or service to honor your loved one. We have partnered with local florists to offer the convenience of ordering directly from the obituary page of our website. You can also use this feature to select the flowers you would like at the service. This is a secure way to choose beautiful arrangements from the privacy and comfort of your home.

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Sharing Service Details

We reduce the stress of contacting those who need the details of the service for your loved one. We post the dates and times of the service as part of the online memorial on our website. You can then either share the memorial on your Facebook or Twitter page or copy the details from the site into an email or text. Both options give you the peace of mind that you have provided the necessary information to those who need it.