Donald Cawley

Donald P. Cawley, Jr., 64, of Jackson Township, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Kingston on October 4, 1958, he was the son of the late Donald and Dolores Champlin Cawley.

Don was a graduate of Pittston Area High School and King’s College (class of 1980) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Soon after, he began his finance career at Commonweath Communications while acquiring his CPA license. He held various positions, including controller of Commonwealth Telephone Company, and ended his 27-year career in 2007 as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises. He continued to work as a consultant for various companies on the East Coast.

Don was a member of Gate of Heaven Church in Dallas, where he had served on the finance committee for 15 years. He was also an attendee at the 7 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Al’s Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre. In addition, Don served as a financial advisor with The United Way of Wyoming Valley.

A loving husband and father, Don’s greatest joy was his family. He never missed a birthday or anniversary with flowers for his wife. He was so proud of his three girls and enjoyed watching them achieve their goals. Don was excited to see that his family was growing in number, even if his son-in-law Garrett was a Packers fan, and was looking forward to becoming a grandfather and a father-in-law a second time. He loved working on projects at his daughters’ homes and was the “go-to man” to fix anything. He loved holiday dinners at his family’s home, the weekend visits from his siblings, and the annual summer visits of many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Don greatly enjoyed taking his family and all his daughters’ friends (and you know who you are) to Ocean City, New Jersey, for the yearly unforgettable summer beach trip, making everyone rise early for bike rides on the boardwalk. “You’re wasting daylight,” he would say.

His unique sense of humor was refreshing, and his work ethic was nothing but perfection.

A fan of Notre Dame and the Chicago Bears, he took aim at Packers, Bills and Patriots fans.

Don perfected his homemade spaghetti sauce leaving everyone wanting a bowl of Uncle Don’s/Mr. Cawley’s spaghetti.

Don was well known by neighbors and passers-by for taking his German Shepherds, Moose and Vince, on a daily walk. He was a dedicated caretaker of his daughter’s horse Hope, and a lending hand to neighbors. His favorite hobby was taking care of his yard, especially cutting the grass, which his family swears he “shaped it up” two to three times a week. We will miss seeing him on his big John Deere tractor and planting the garden with his wife.

Over the years, Don developed many close and lasting friendships with co-workers, neighbors, local businesses and “horse people.” He was a strong supporter of the American flag and first responders, especially the police and the military. He will be missed immensely!

He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by paternal grandparents Patrick and Regina Cawley; maternal grandparents Daniel and Edna Champlin; father-in-law Steven Stash; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, the former Jane Stash; daughters, Jill Cawley and her fiancé George, Philadelphia; Christie Wynn and her husband Garrett and new-born (Dec. 14, 2022) granddaughter Riley Jane Wynn, Lehman; Janelle Cawley, Philadelphia; sisters, Susan Cawley, Pittston and Karen (Edward) Tomaszewski, Swoyersville, their children Edward (Tracie) NJ, Patrick (Jenny) and son Harrison, CA, Kevin (Christina) AZ; brothers, Brian Cawley, Pittston, and Alan Cawley, Pittston, his children Tyler and Cody, Pittston; aunt Theresa Cawley, Philadelphia; uncles Paul Cawley and George Cawley, Pittston; Mother-in-law

Frances Stash, Jackson Township; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 10:00 AM from The Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, Inc. 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas, 18612 and 10:30 AM at Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas. Interment will be in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Lehman. Friends may call Monday from 6 to 8 PM. Online condolences may be sent to Disquefuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gate of Heaven Church, 40 Machell Ave, Dallas, PA 18612; Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org; St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 William Street, Pittston, PA 18640.

Don’s family would like to thank the Kunkle Ambulance medics and the emergency room staff at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for their kindness during this difficult time.