Sunday, March 27, 2016

Aunt Frannie's 91st Birthday

Such a beautiful memory written by Aunt Frannie's son, my cousin, Tom Grden

Monday, March 7, 2016

My heart is broken - In memory of Frances Hurbanek Steele

Aunt Frannie will be very much missed.  She lived a wonderful, long life surrounded by family and many friends. 


FRANCES STEELE - age 91, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2016. A lifelong Pittsburgh and Murrysville resident and advocate, she was born in Pittsburgh, PA on March 2, 1925, the daughter of the late Rose and Louis Hurbanek. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Grden, of Virginia Beach; and son, Thomas Grden and his wife, Patricia Grden, of Baldwin. She is survived by her granddaughters, their husbands, and great- grandchildren she so dearly loved, Tricia and David Hepler and sons, Stephen, Marshall, and Dawson of Sligo, PA, Debra and Jason Amos and son, Nathan of Bowie, MD, and Barbara and George Grisnik and daughters, Madison and Natalie of West Newton, PA. She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Albitz of Pittsburgh; brother, Al Hurbanek of Pittsburgh, and brother, Jim Hurbanek and wife, Sue, of Cleveland, OH. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She was the wife of the late Stephen Grden of Pittsburgh, her life partner despite passing away in 1968. "Frannie" attended South Hills High School. She was a member of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. She had a career as an office manager with West Penn Power, where she met her husband, Stephen, as well as the Pittsburgh Presbytery, Advantra, and the Pittsburgh History Center before retiring and organizing many movies, bingo, and other activities at her home, Canongate Apartments in Whitehall. She assisted her sister, Marilyn, at the Greentree Historical Society. She had a lifelong love of dancing and organized numerous dances and events. Most remarkable, though, was her love of books, learning, baking, and art/music. Her famous nutrolls, pies, and cookies will live forever for us, and her granddaughters have been excellent understudies. She devoted numerous hours of volunteer time to the Murrysville and Brentwood Community Libraries. She was honored by her family and friends at her 90th birthday for "Richer than I you can never be - I had a Mother who read to me." A heartfelt thanks goes to Drs. Rubin, Kraftowitz, and Czak, and their staffs, for their truly remarkable care and personal support for Fran over the many years. A special thanks to the staff of Asbury Heights, who welcomed her as a new member of their community. Friends will be received at the JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227 on Sunday, March 6, 2016, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral Prayer on Monday morning, March 7, 2016, at 9:15. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church at 10:00 a.m.



Her Kindergarten picture
 


Riding a pony with brother Lou
 

Hanging out with friends and sister Marilyn (mom in front, Aunt Frannie behind her)



Her high school graduation picture


Her high school senior picture
 


Her wedding picture
 
 
So many more memories to share, but I'd like to mention two sisters, my mom and Aunt Frannie in 1993:
 
 
And again last summer in 2015 -TWO GREAT AUNTS!
 


Love and miss you so much, Aunt Frannie