Thomas Joseph Kerns

Thomas Joseph Kerns, 59, died Friday afternoon. Tom was born and raised in Whitestone, Queens, N.Y. He graduated from Bishop Reilly High School, Queens. He was the son of the late Harold Charles Kerns and Margaret Flaherty Kerns.

Tom, we will miss you dearly. Your life was filled and fulfilled as a husband, father, son, brother and uncle. "Progress not perfection" seemed to be a code of ethics that you lived by. Your life was spent with your childhood sweetheart, Anita, for 44 years, 36 years in marriage! It appeared that your love and concern for your children and grandchildren was the goal of your existence. You exuded a light of pride when you spoke of them.

Tom was encouraged to move his family to Clarks Summit by his brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Ursula Kerns. It was then that Tom and his family set roots in the Clarks Summit area.

Tom had many challenges and successes in life, and was always a good friend. His life was a great teacher for us all. He always stayed true to his nature, a caring and humorous gentleman loved by many. We will always remember him for his sense of humor and loyalty.

Tom enjoyed coaching basketball and baseball for his son's teams. He also took great pleasure in fishing with his son, Bryan. Tom concluded his many years of hard work with the American Building Maintenance Company as a project manager before his health declined.

Tom has been loved and survived by his wife, Anita Kerns, South Abington Twp.; daughter, Kimberly Howell and husband, Ryan, and children, Courtney, Madison and Brayden, South Abington Twp.; daughter, Heather Percival and husband, Tony, and children, Grace and Anthony, South Abington Twp.; son, Bryan Kerns and partner, Rachel Dougherty (and Dogs!), Clarks Summit; sister, Geraldine Kerns Hartmayer and husband, Bob, Indiana; brother, Kevin Kerns and wife, Ursula, Clarks Summit; sisters-in-law, Jane Ellen Valenti, New York; and Pamela Rufasto, Florida; and father-in-law, Edward Scheer, Florida. He is also loved and survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the ICU at Moses Taylor and our deepest gratitude to the entire staff of Allied Skilled Nursing Facility, 2 North and all therapy departments.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. from Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit. All those attending are asked to go directly to the church.

Visitation of family and friends will be Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Center Point 2, 1160 U.S. Highway Suite 103, Bridgewater