Carmen Marina Rinkunas

Carmen "Carmina" Marina Rinkunas, 48, of Clarks Summit, died Monday at Hospice Community Care, Dunmore surrounded by the love of her family and friends. She was the beloved wife of Joseph Rinkunas.

Born in East Islip, New York, she was the daughter of Marina and Dr. German Salcedo, Great River, New York. Carmina had the distinction of being a part of the first triplets born at Good Samaritan Hospital. Her extraordinary entrance into this world was only outdone by the gifted life she led. She was a graduate of East Islip High School, Ithaca College and the Benjamin N. Cardoza School of Law. After marrying Joe in 1992, Carmina moved from New York to Clarks Summit. Having worked for Lenahan and Dempsey and Selective Insurance Co., Carmina most recently worked with distinction as a senior trial attorney for Traveler's Insurance, where she has been nominated for the 2013 Brett Barnard Staff Counsel Leadership Award, a national award recognizing an attorney who exhibits grace under pressure, endurance and resolve in overcoming significant hardship while serving as an example, influencing and inspiring others to improve.

Carmina enjoyed skiing with her family each Sunday at Elk Mountain, swimming and golfing at Glen Oak Country Club, sharing insights in her book club each month, serving as her daughter's Girl Scout leader, coaching her sons' Odyssey of the Mind team at Our Lady of Peace School, and traveling with family to the beach or other great vacation spots. A consummate chef, she loved to try new recipes out on her lucky family and friends.

Carmina's personal sense of style belied her diagnosis of cancer. Refusing to be defined by cancer, she put a new face to how to gracefully live with the disease. She artfully managed to strike a balance between work and family with necessary surgeries and treatments over eight years. With Carmina's unwavering faith in God, she exuded an optimism and joyfulness for life, which cancer could not defeat. With clarity and purpose, she used her diagnosis to transform herself to a higher level of love and compassion. She rallied her friends and family to participate in the Avon Foundation 39 Mile Walk for Breast Cancer, raising tens of thousands of dollars for research. An inspiration to so many, she was honored by Blue Cross in 2012 as a Gallery of Hope Recipient. She reached out to her faith community as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Snows Roman Catholic Church as well as having become a Cursillista in the Scranton Diocese.

Her greatest joy was undoubtedly her family. Raised by her parents in a home of unconditional love, she and Joe continued that tradition and treasured their time with their three children, Jarret, Erik and Marina.

She is also survived by her siblings, Dr. Herman Salcedo and wife, Maritza, Yorktown Heights, New York; Dr. Michael Salcedo and wife, Antoinette, South Bend, Indiana; triplet sister, Dr. Jackie Moscoso and husband, Dr. Ricardo Moscoso, Virginia Beach, Virginia; triplet brother, Dr. William Salcedo and wife, Janice, Stuart, Florida; father-in-law, Joseph Rinkunas Sr., Elmhurst; sister-in-law, Gail Budziak and husband, Jonathan, Olyphant; nieces, Krystina, Rebeka, Mikaela, Alexandra and Lauren Salcedo; nephews, Daniel and Emil Fernandez, Michael, Matthew, Ricardo, Nicolas, Daniel and Jason Salcedo; cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Carmen Valdez and Orestes Villalba; paternal grandparents, Pantaleon and Carmela Salcedo; and mother-in-law, Rita Rinkunas.

While it would be impossible to delineate all of the professionals and friends who supported Carmina and her family through medical care and simple acts of kindness over their journey for the last eight years, her family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and chaplains at the Philadelphia Cancer Treatment Center of America and the staff at Hospice Community Care.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 South State Street, Clarks Summit. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

Friends may call Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 South State Street, Clarks Summit.

In lieu of flowers and to respect Carmina's firm commitment to practicality and to her children's education, memorial contributions may be made to the Rinkunas Children Scholarship Fund, 2005 Elden Drive, Clarks Summit, PA 18411. To send an online condolence, please visit www.lawrenceeyoungfu neralhome.com.