06/13/2026
Shady Lane Resident of the Week, 6/13/2026: Bernard Kaleda (1892-1938)
Bernard Kaleda was born on August 15, 1892, in what was variously called Lithuania, Poland, or Russia. Because of the area he immigrated from, we see multiple versions of his name, including Kalida and Kaledo. These variations stem from spelling errors and from official or unofficial attempts to Anglicize Eastern European names.
We know almost nothing about Bernard’s family background except that his parents were Caspar Kaleda and Elizabeth Maginus Kaleda. We also know that Bernard had at least three siblings: Andrew (1888), Frances (?), and Marcella (?). We know that Andrew and Frances also immigrated to the U.S., while Marcella stayed in Lithuania. Frances married another Lithuanian immigrant and her married name was Rychkus, though Bernard’s obituary reported it as Roche.
Bernard entered the United States at Philadelphia on May 1, 1911. He quickly ended up in Scranton, where coal mining jobs were available. Times were hard, however. In 1915, a man who was probably Bernard was held up by robbers on the street. The only thing of value he had on him at the time was a single quarter, and the robbers were in such a rush that they missed it.
When the United States officially entered WW1 in 1917, resident aliens were subject to the draft. Both Bernard and his brother Andrew ended up serving in the Army. Bernard was part of Battery E, 320 Field Artillery, 82nd Division. He served overseas in France from May 1918 to February 1919.
Bernard returned to the U.S. and settled back into a quiet life in Scranton. He resumed working in the mines, attended St. Joseph’s Lithuanian Church, and socialized with the many other Lithuanians in the area, though he never married. In 1927, Bernard had the grim duty of identifying the body of one of his neighbors who had drowned in the Lackawanna River.
By 1933, Bernard experienced the first symptoms of anthracosis, caused by the accumulation of carbon in the lungs. Despite this development, he continued working in the mines, as did so many other Scranton men. Every day that he inhaled coal dust, his lung tissue darkened and his oxygen absorption was further compromised.
In 1937, Bernard filed a naturalization petition based on his military service during the war. Congress had passed a law to allow aliens who served in the military to become citizens without filing the usual Declaration of Intent. Bernard was able to take his oath of citizenship in November, 1937.
In August 1938, Bernard’s health suddenly took a serious downturn. His anthracosis had worsened, triggering an acute heart dilation event. Bernard died on August 25, 1938, at the age of 46.
Thanks to his veteran status, Bernard was eligible for a free burial plot in the Soldier Section at Shady Lane Cemetery. His sister Frances submitted the application for a veteran marker, so that his grave would be appropriately marked.
Bernard’s brother Andrew died in 1954 and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre. Andrew left behind eight children and nine grandchildren, ensuring that the Kaleda legacy continued.
As for Bernard, he now resides among his fellow-soldiers at Shady Lane Cemetery—may they all rest in peace!
