Sylvia P. Zaladonis

Dr. Sylvia P. Zaladonis, M.D., 81, of Bethlehem died January 1, 2014, at St. Lukes Hospice. She was born in Bangor, PA, the daughter of the late Leonard and Mary (Falcone) Petruccelli. She was the wife of the late Dr. Joseph J. Zaladonis, Sr., M.D. Married while medical students, their marriage of forty years ended with his death in 1998.

A graduate of Bangor high School, she studied piano and voice for three years before changing to premed studies. She received BS-BA degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. She received the Doctor of Medicine degree from Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania (now Drexel University College of Medicine), Philadelphia and served an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown. She joined her husband in Family Practice in 1962 at 1809 Columbine Avenue, Bethlehem, and practiced for 36 years, retiring in August, 1998. In retirement, Dr. Zaladonis divided her time between her home in Bethlehem and summer home in Avalon, NJ.

Dr. Zaladonis and her husband were among the six Lehigh Valley physicians to first achieve certification as specialists in Family Practice. She is a Charter Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, a Fellow of the AAFP. She maintained board certification status 1971-1999, recertifying every seven years throughout her practice career. She is a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Lehigh County Medical Society, American Academy of Family Physicians, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and an associate of The Philadelphia College of Physicians.

She is a member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church where she served as Director of the Adult Choir for 24 years, 1963-1987, and also served as an organist for many years.

Survivors: Dr. Zaladonis is survived by sons Dr. Joseph J. Zaladonis, Jr., M.D., Bethlehem dermatologist and his wife Ann Marie and Michael T. Zaladonis, of Upper Saddle River, NJ. and his wife Patricia, four grandchildren: Angela, Carly, Joseph James III and Chloe; brother Dr. Francis Petruccelli, Bethlehem, sister Yolanda, wife of Dr. Raymond Rachman, Paoli, numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brother Dr. Nicholas Petruccelli.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018. The family will receive friends from 10-11 A.M. at the church prior to the Mass. Interment will be at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

Contributions: in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20064 or to Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018.

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