Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
From Welsh Hymns to Lifelong Friendship
Doreen Woodyatt Fazzi first crossed paths with Kitty Jenkins Purosky when their churches merged. Originally, First Baptist Church was the Welsh church where Doreen’s family had attended services in English, while Kitty’s First Welsh Baptist Church worshipped in their native Welsh language (Kitty came to Scranton from Wales after World War II as a “G.I. Bride”). From that merging of their churches, the two have built a friendship spanning decades, built upon the foundations of ardent cultural memory, a shared sense of identity, and the joys of community involvement. Currently, the church they met in and to which they dedicated years of their lives has transitioned to serve a more racially and culturally diverse community. They both welcome that change while continuing to preserve their own treasured heritage. They each hope that, going forward, both Scranton and the United States ensure that education is prioritized, supported, expanded, and improved upon for future generations.
