Gene ‘Cookie’ Beggin
OBITUARY
Gene Cookie Beggin, 62, of Olyphant, died on June 27, 2026, at Geisinger CMC, Scranton, following an illness.
Born in Peckville on June 8, 1964, he was the son of the late George and Mary Ligus Beggin. He was a devout Catholic, and loved to go to Church at S.S. Cyril & Methodius, where he was a member. He graduated from So. Scranton Special Ed and eventually went on to work at Pizza Hut, Dunmore, for the next 20 plus years until his retirement at the end of 2014.
He enjoyed riding the bus back and forth to work, going to Atlantic City, riding his bike, bowling with ARC, going to dances at NHS of NEPA, taking walks, hanging out with his friends at the firehouse, and family gatherings. Cookie loved wearing crazy hats, Halloween costumes, and dressing up in his Santa suit. He was especially fond of pizza, Big Macs, and beer. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, and Godfather to Jonah. To his family he was No.#1 and The Best, and will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by three sisters, Mary Ann McConnell, and Nancy Kohut of Olyphant, and Janice Soltysiak of Westfield, MA.; two brothers, Al and wife Lori of Jessup, and Michael; and a sister-in-law, Debbie of Aguango, CA. He is also survived by seventeen nieces and nephews; twenty great nieces and nephews; three great-grandnieces and nephews; plus several cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Helen Palfrey and infant Nancy; brother, George; nephew, A.J. Soltysiak; and brothers-in-law, George Kohut, Eugene McConnell, Bernard Palfrey, and Rev. Joseph Soltysiak.
Cookie spent the last decade of his life in the care of St. Joseph’s, and was a resident at the Center for almost eight years. Our family would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff and caregivers, each and everyone, at St. Joseph’s Center for their kindness, and for the loving and compassionate care of Gene.
There will be a viewing on Thursday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the John J. Turko & Sons Funeral Home, 402 Boulevard Ave., Dickson City, with Parastas Service at 5:00 pm. The Divine Liturgy Funeral Mass will be on Friday morning at 10:00 am at S.S. Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, River St., Olyphant, to be celebrated by Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, Pastor. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made, in Genes name, to the St. Joseph’s Center.
Gene ‘Cookie’ Beggin
June 27, 2026