Fay Marie (Jordan) Pitonyak

Fay Marie (Jordan) Pitonyak, 91, peacefully passed away October 20, 2021 at her home in Erie PA, surrounded by family.

She was born on Friday the 13th of December, 1929 at her aunt’s house in Emporium PA, to Rex and Helen (Teats) Jordan. Fay graduated from Renovo High School in 1947. Soon after graduation her mother passed away, at which time Fay took over the care of her five younger siblings. On August 4, 1951, she married John Pitonyak, who preceded her in death on June 20, 2018. Upon their marriage, Fay moved to Erie to join her husband, and together they built the house where they raised their four children and continued to reside until their deaths. She and her husband also loved spending time at their camp on the family campground on Mason Hill.

Fay enjoyed the many roles of a full-time homemaker. During her child-raising years, she worked in the cafeteria at St. James School and served as Camp Fire Girl leader there, participating in many of the school’s activities. She was a long-time member of a Bible Study group, and with her husband, a member of the Eriez Magnetics Retiree Club.

She was very artistic and learned to sew at a young age, starting with doll clothes and moving on to designing and sewing suits and wedding gowns. She enjoyed sewing large scale items, including quilts, drapes and slip-covers, but also sewed on a very small scale to decorate the miniature rooms and dollhouses that she made. She was a member of the Erie Miniaturist Club, known as the “Miniacs”, for many years. She enjoyed interior decorating and a variety of crafts; she also sketched and painted in watercolors, oils and acrylics.

Fay was an avid reader from a very young age. When faced with life’s difficulties, she felt that books helped her to get through the challenges. We suggest that in honor of Fay, you consider reading to a child to spread her love of reading, or enjoy a good book yourself.

Fay was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; her sister, Evelyn Jordan McCoole; her brother, Larry Jordan; as well as her sister-in-law, Loretta Fantaske Jordan; brothers-in-law, Kenneth McCoole and George Werts.

Left to cherish Fay’s memory are daughters, Rosemary (George) Nicosia and Jane (Rick) Hinman, both of Erie; sons, Daniel (Brenda) Pitonyak of Bloomsburg PA, and Steven (Christine) Pitonyak of Erie; her brothers, John L. Jordan and Thomas R. (Margaret) Jordan, both of Erie; and her sister, Myrna Jordan Werts of Renovo PA; grandchildren, Dave (Lori) Nicosia, Shannon (Glenn) Light, James (Sarah) Nicosia, Megan (Whit) Clark, Katherine (Rudy) Surovick, Rick (Lisa) Hinman, Michael (Deanna) Hinman, Matthew (Lindsay) Huff, Nathan Huff, Lindsey (Matthew) Van Dyke, Lee Pitonyak, Emily Pitonyak, Wil Pitonyak and Mark Pitonyak; great-grandchildren, Julia, Maddison, Mason, Adelaide, Lily, Ellie, Carolina, Rudy, Isaac, Emma, Kendall, Brady, Margot, Sebastian, Hugo, Gavin, Maddy, Josh, Keira, Alex, Mia, Willow and Colby; as well as many nieces and nephews. She loved and enjoyed them all.

Fay’s family wishes to thank Nurse Kat and the team from Interim Hospice, as well as the new friends who cared for her in her final months: Karen, Debbie, Amanda, Kelli, Renee, Catherine and Ruth. We will be forever grateful.

Memorials may be made in Fay’s honor to The Friends of the Erie County Public Library  160 E Front St, Erie, PA 16507, to Interim Hospice of Erie 2206 W 15th St, Erie, PA 16505, or to the organization of your choice.

Friends may call on Saturday October 30, 2021 from 11:00 A.M. to the time of the memorial service at 1:00 P.M. with pastor Wade Berkey officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Edder Funeral Home Inc. Girard. To send condolences visit edderfuneralhome.com