Paulette C. Schreiber, 61, of 265 Old Kersey Road, Kersey, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2015, at her home surrounded by her family after a lengthy illness.
She was born June 11, 1954, in St. Marys, daughter of the late Louis B. Luchini and Hazel Lavella Luchini who survives of Kersey. She was a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from the Elk County Christian High School, Class of 1972, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Class of 1976, and from Penn State University in 1997 as a Nurse Practitioner. Since 1976, Paulette had worked at the local hospital and in 2000 she instituted the Women’s Health Care Center at Penn Highlands Elk.
On June 10, 1978, in the St. Boniface Church, she married Robert J. Schreiber, Jr., who survives. She is also survived by a daughter, Rachel Schreiber and her fiancé Seth Rhed of Kersey; a son, Joseph R. Schreiber of Black Mountain, NC; a sister, Barbara Handwerger and her husband Joseph of St. Marys; and by many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the Schreiber family, who considered her their sister.
Paulette’s extraordinary talents led her to have a successful practice in women’s health care. She was consumed in her work and provided conscientious, compassionate, empathetic care to all of her clients. Paulette cared about her patients and that was evident in her focus of women’s health issues. She wanted to see her women long-term.
She also served in the community that she loved. She would often give talks providing education, advocacy, and outreach support on most any health care issue she was asked to speak about, including the Susan G. Komen, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, American Cancer Society, and Environmental Health Conferences. On her days off from seeing patients, you could spot her tirelessly attending health fairs.
In addition to the fact that she was beautiful inside and out, she was a wonderful sense of humor and laughed often. Paulette never backed away from any challenge in her life, a trait that served her well as she faced cancer diagnoses, surgeries, and chemotherapy. Knowledge, strength, and grace would define Paulette. She was poised and she was graceful.
Unfortunately, her own cancer took her life. She learned what terminal illness can teach. She did not let her cancer get her down. Paulette did not take her life for granted. Her life was much richer because of it.
Her death is a loss not just to her loved ones, friends, colleagues, and patients, but for the entire area. Paulette was loved by her patients and in return she loved them back.
She was a member of the St. Boniface Church, where she served as a lector and an usher. What Paulette enjoyed most was spending time with her family, especially her children. Our family would not be the same without her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the St. Boniface Church on Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Ross Miceli, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Penn Highlands Elk, c/o Women’s Health Care, in memory of Paulette Schreiber, 763 Johnsonburg Road, St. Marys, PA 15857.
“My work has become my life. I eat, breathe, and sleep women’s health.”
