Christine T. (Brylewski) Zuber

Christine T. (Brylewski) Zuber, 84, of Frackville, passed away peacefully in her home on December 6, 2025. She was married to the love of her life, Peter Zuber, for 63 years, a marriage that was a source of strength and devotion. Born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Christine was the daughter of the late Vincent and Helen (Aftuk) Brylewski. She grew up on Pine Street in Mahanoy City, attended St. Casimir Elementary School and the Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, and later studied at McCann School of Business before working in Harrisburg. She was a longtime member of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church of Frackville, where her faith guided her throughout her life.

Christine wanted to be remembered as someone who loved her family, her extended family, and her friends. She was an amazing mother and grandmother, and her grandchildren’s friends knew her best for her legendary macaroni and cheese, a dish she proudly made and shared, earning a reputation that stretched far beyond her own family. She delighted in cheering on her children and grandchildren at sporting events and theater productions, and she happily assisted her daughters in setting up their first apartments, always leaving behind her thoughtful touches.  Commemorating the impact of Penn State University on her family, a brick in the family’s honor is in place at the Hintz Family Alumni Center in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Her life was filled with traditions, humor, and everyday joys. She played cards regularly, found delight in Scrabble by creating obscure seven-letter words or setting up plays for others, enjoyed crossword puzzles and ancestry research, and was an avid doll collector. She loved hard shell crabs, raised donuts, sewing, crocheting, and camping in Cherrystone Campground in Cheriton, Virginia. Many were lucky enough to receive one of her crocheted afghans, cherished forever as a symbol of her warmth and care. She could get a stain out of just about anything, jarred tomatoes with pride, insisted that food should never be served ice cold and loved dining out. She debated the merits of hard versus soft ice cream, enjoyed eggs over easy—especially when they had double yolks—and liked her steaks medium rare, or so she thought. She was an avid basketball fan, with Villanova being her favorite team.  Much to the surprise of many due to her lack of height, she was a point guard on her high school team.

Christine gave generously of her time and talents. She was a Girl Scout leader, a member of the North Schuylkill Lady Spartan Basketball Booster Club, the Elks Ladies Auxiliary, and a supporter of the American Cancer Society. After one of her grandchildren was born 16 weeks prematurely, she began sewing fleece blankets for kangaroo care, donating them to hospitals so other families could share in the comfort she valued. She taught her grandchildren the intricacies of crabbing, passing down techniques for catching crabs at her happy place, Ocean City, Maryland. She enjoyed lottery tickets, reading, seeing movies, and running Chris’s Candle and Gift Shop, a venture ahead of its time that reflected her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Christine was known as the queen of the shortcut, able to find a quicker way to almost anywhere. She fostered the importance of independence in her children and grandchildren, and she never missed an opportunity to support them in all their endeavors. She had a heart of gold, and as her loved ones often said, “Everybody loves Grandma.”

Christine’s legacy is one of warmth, resilience, and love. She leaves behind a family and community who will forever cherish her memory, her shortcuts, her afghans, her laughter, and her unwavering support.

Christine is survived by her devoted husband, Peter, and their five daughters: Ann Zuber (Frank Kurek III) of Claymont, Delaware; Helene Z. Slocum (Jeff) of Minnetonka, Minnesota; Christine P. Fannick (Michael Sorbera) of Hamilton, New Jersey; Petrina Z. Zaraszczak (Eli) of Plymouth, Minnesota; and Emily N. Zuber (Matthew Kuppich) of Minnetonka, Minnesota. She was the proud grandmother of seven; Frank Kurek IV (Ann), Hadley and Jefferson Zuber Slocum (Helene), Emily Fannick and Ashley Dunkelberger (Christine), Petro and Jay Zuber Zaraszczak (Petrina).  She is also survived by her brother, Joseph Brylewski of North Carolina, her sister, Patricia Obrzut of Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Vincent, Edward and Leonard and her sister Eleanor Murphy.

A private service will be conducted in accordance with the family’s wishes.  Friends and loved ones are invited to share photos and memories with the family online at markjhummelfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, 243 S. Middle St., Frackville, PA. 17931 (Office Address), in Christine’s memory.

MARK J HUMMEL FUNERAL HOME, FRACKVILLE, has charge of arrangements 570-874-0197

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