Brian Joseph Mariano

Brian Joseph Mariano, age 51, of 1 Blue Jay Drive, Bloomsburg, died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

He was born on April 23, 1964 at the Bloomsburg Hospital, a son of Janette E. (Chenkanski) Mariano, of Bloomsburg and the late Albert C. Mariano. He pent his early life in Kulpmont.

Brian was a 1983 graduate of the Mt. Carmel Are High School, where he played football, basketball and was on the track team for the Red Tornados. Following High School, he attended Mansfield University, graduating with honors in 1988. He later pursued a Master’s Degree at Shippensburg University before ultimately leaving to take a job as a juvenile probation officer for Northumberland County. At this job, he met his wife, the former Amy Doncheski. They were married on September 19, 1992, and would have celebrated their 23rd anniversary this fall.

He was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church, Bloomsburg.

Brian returned to the Bloomsburg area in 1996 and worked for the Geisinger Health Plan for four years before going on to pursue his artistic side, the love of jewelry design. He spent the past several years creating custom pieces of jewelry for clients all over the tri-state area. He traveled to various fairs and shows with his wife, and loved to create and express himself through his jewelry making.

In addition to the art of jewelry making, Brian also loved physical exercise, and received his license as a certified personal trainer from the American College of Sports Medicine in 2014. He was currently serving as a personal trainer for the Berwick Area YMCA. He loved spending time at the YMCA and working with his clients. It was yet another passion of his.

Brian loved to spend time with his family and friends, going on cruises, on annual trips to Gettysburg with his wife, and brewing homemade craft beer. He even got his pilot’s license in 1998 so that he could fly ultra-light parachute powered planes and take aerial photographs of the local countryside.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Michael Doncheski.

Surviving in addition to his mother are his beloved wife Amy and their dog, Cricket; a sister, Sandra C., wife of Robert L. Graeber, Lititz; a brother, Martin P. Mariano, wife Beverly, Bloomsburg; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Doncheski, Coal Township; and three brother-in-laws: Mark Doncheski, wife Mary, Kaseville; Lee Doncheski, wife Michelle, Elysburg; Mike Doncheski, wife Carolyn, Greencastle; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron Street, Bloomsburg, by his pastor, Msgr. Robert E. Lawrence. Private interment will be made in All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg.

Viewing on Monday from 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Dean W. Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg. Christian Wake services on Monday at 8 p.m.

The family will provide flowers. Donations in Brian’s memory may be made to the Berwick Are YMCA, 231 W. 3rd Street, Berwick, PA 18603.