Samantha Penko, 20, of West Nanticoke passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center following a lengthy illness.

Born August 26, 1999 She was a daughter of Joseph and Diana Kline Penko of West Nanticoke. Samantha attended the Greater Nanticoke Area Schools, graduating from Greater Nanticoke Area Senior High School, Class of 2017 and attended Luzerne County Community College. She also completed courses through both the West Side and Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational-Technical schools.

Samantha touched the lives of many people with her kind heart, infectious smile, and strong spirit!!! No matter what life brought her, she had a positive outlook and a determined will. Samantha loved hiking trails (when she was able), shopping, mail-order shopping, and traveling. Her most recent trips included her senior trip to Florida in 2017 with her GNA classmates in addition to her Make-A-Wish trip to Alcatraz Island, San Francisco California, with her family.

She was an active member of St. Faustina Kowalska Parish, Nanticoke where she enjoyed serving as an altar server, and lector.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Bill Kline, Joe Yencha, and Edmund Penko.

Surviving in addition to her parents, are a sister, Veronica and a brother, Nate, both at home; grandmothers, Diana Kline, West Nanticoke and Lillian Penko, Huntington Mills; uncles, Bill Kline and wife, Roberta and James Kline and wife, Ann; Robert Penko and wife, Rosalind; aunts, Pat Pipan and husband, John; Christine Ziomek , Linda Penko and Renee Amos and husband, Ryan and numerous cousins.

Funeral services will begin Saturday at 10:30 from Davis-Dinelli Funeral Home, 170 E. Broad Street, Nanticoke with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Faustina Kowalska Parish, primary site, 520 S. Hanover Street, Nanticoke with the Rev. James R. Nash, her pastor as celebrant.

Viewing and visitation hours will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.