Paulette Posluszny Merchel, Ph.D, 73, died Thursday, May 6, at Marywood Heights in Scranton, PA. She was the widow of Paul Merchel who died January 16, 2011 Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of Henry and Helen Laskowski Posluszny, two devoted parents who raised their daughters to be educated, self-sufficient women. They instilled a strong work ethic, love, compassion, and a sense of humor to both. Paulette was a lifelong member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish graduating from its grade school in 1961 before moving on to West Scranton High School where she graduated in 1965. From an early age, she displayed not only exceptional academic ability but the gift of entertainment. Participating in school programs and studying dance evolved into a serious interest in theatre. She fully embraced her Polish heritage which affiliated her to the Kosciuszko American Legion Post, the Pulaski Society, and the Women’s Division of the Polish Union early on. In 8th Grade she was presented the American Legion award for scholarship and citizenship by the Ladies Auxiliary. She often provided entertainment for a variety of church and school programs as a soloist, banjo player, and performing pantomimes. Her pride in her heritage and affiliate organizations, along with her devotion to her parish, were the threads that sustained her throughout her life. After a successful high school career as an honors student, outstanding Thespian, captain of the cheerleaders and being named Miss Invader, she was awarded a scholarship by the Scranton Women Teachers’ Club, becoming a lifetime member when she began teaching in the Scranton School District. She arrived at Marywood in the fall of 1965 and was off and running. In her freshman year she placed second in The Marywood Players Freshman Acting Contest. As a sophomore, she earned the title role of Maria in “The Sound of Music” and continued in starring roles throughout her college career. Another favorite role was that of Mother Courage while earning her Master’s Degree. She never missed an opportunity to entertain both on and off the stage. Upon graduation from Marywood in 1969, she received the Lynett Medal for Academic Distinction in Communication Arts and Science; was awarded the Commander Degree in the Order of St. Genesius; received into Kappa Gamma Pi and named to “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.” “There are no small parts.” This well-known mantra of the theatre is often repeated to emphasize the importance of all roles in any production. Paulette always maintained that this is a good philosophy of life—a philosophy shaped back when she was a junior at Marywood, majoring in Speech and Drama/Secondary Education. When her teacher asked students to write on their personal philosophy, Paulette had focused on the ideal of ensemble--working together--serving the company--putting others first. For 42 years of teaching in secondary and higher education, Paulette adhered to that philosophy. Theater, she believed, dramatically mirrored life. Shakespeare said it: “All the world’s a stage.” As student, performer, director, and educator, Paulette lived her personal playbill of theatrical accomplishment. After receiving her degree from Marywood, she went on to earn her M.A. in Theatre Arts from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, pursued her M.A./Ph.D. in comparative literature at SUNY Stony Brook; then earned her Ph.D. in Mass Media and Communication from Temple University. She continued to study through a Sabbatical project in non-profit theatre and through private study and coursework at SUNY Binghamton; Marywood; the University of Texas at Austin; and Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland. Many summers were spent as a supervisor for the Scranton School District’s summer playground program followed, after earning her Master’s Degree, working in summer stock at the Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott, NY. Her role as an educator took her to Skidmore College, SUNY Stony Brook, and Marywood University where she was, at first, a lecturer in public speaking while also teaching speech and dramatic arts at West Scranton High School. That role was long running. She taught there for twenty years, before joining Marywood’s faculty as Associate Professor of Theatre and Program Director for concentrations in Theatre Arts, Musical Theatre, Arts Administration, and Secondary Education. During her nineteen-year tenure at Marywood, she produced 26 plays; directed nearly 30 dramas, comedies, musicals, plus eleven plays in her favorite genre: children’s theatre. In addition, she served as artistic producer/director for five dance concerts and took on special projects, ranging from Speak Truth to Power, a social justice production, to a sociodrama on alcohol awareness, to a workshop in commedia dell’arte, in affiliation with the Electric Theatre Company and with Lingua Si Center for Culture and Language in Orvieto, Italy. At Marywood, she served on a dozen different committees, was advisor to Marywood Players, Coordinator of Practicum, and Supervisor of the Speech program (a University requirement, so it involved every student matriculating at Marywood). Talk about directing a cast of thousands! In 2012 she was presented with the Marywood Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Creative and Performing Arts. She returned to Marywood for an additional three years after her husband died which provided the opportunity to reconnect with the profession she loved. For her 20-year service to Marywood, she was awarded the Cor Mariae Pro Fide et Cultura, a medal she cherished. In 2019, she co-chaired her 50th Reunion from Marywood and was inducted into the Sr. Cuthbert Donovan Society. Paulette always said “Marywood has truly been my alma mater--“another mother”--in nurturing the skills, philosophy, and values that were transferred to her students. She believed she was a reflection of the values to which she was generously exposed as a Marywood student.” Throughout her storied career, she served as a supervisor for the CETA Summer Youth Employment Program, where she received a Congressional Award from the Department of Labor for her outstanding achievements, as Chairperson of her parish Pastoral Council, as dedicated parish choir member, as Board Director for the Electric Theatre Company, an auctioneer for many years at WVIA’s Auction 44, and most recently, served as an Executive Board Member of the Broadway Theatre League taking the role of Chairperson of the Education Committee as well as holding a seat on the Gala Committee and Social Committee. Her role as Education Chair allowed her to provide opportunities for local young people to engage in and witness theatre on a professional level. She is survived by her three beloved nephews, Peter Bardunias and wife, Eileen, Clifton Park, NY; Paul Bardunias and wife, Helaina, Hollywood, FL, and John Bardunias, Hollywood, FL; her adoring grandnephews Jonathan, Paul, Jr. and Benjamin; and a devoted grandniece, Arianna. Other survivors include her aunt Andzia Woysnar, Binghamton, NY; her uncle John Laskowski, Rochester, NY; and several cousins. She also leaves behind a large circle of friends she forged in childhood that grew exponentially until her death, including her longest running closest friends, Erin McNulty Booth and Barbara Spellman Shuta. No matter where Paulette was or whom she was with, she brought the party with her. Whether hosting an event at her home or out with friends, she always left a trail of smiles behind. She leaves a legacy of love, friendship, and laughter. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Bonnie Posluszny Bardunias, and brother-in-law, Peter Bardunias, Sr. Her family would like to extend their appreciation to the entire medical staff at Moses Taylor Hospital for their diligent, professional care and to the staff at Marywood Heights for their compassionate care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m. in SS. Peter and Paul Church, 1309 W. Locust St., West Scranton, to be celebrated by the Rev. Shane Kirby with concelebrants, Fr. Kenneth Seegar and Rev. Sam Ferretti. Interment parish cemetery, Taylor. All those attending are respectfully asked to report directly to the church and are required to wear a mask. The funeral will be livestreamed on Youtube at Hallock.Live Friends may call Thursday, May 13, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann’s St. West Scranton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Marywood University for the Paulette Posluszny Merchel ‘69, Ph.D. Theatre Arts Scholarship, www.marywood.edu/makeagift or Marywood University, Office of Advancement, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.

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