THOMAS

SUSAN MARIE (OTTINO)

Age 76, of Pittsburgh, passed away Saturday, February 7, following a short illness. Her passing was peaceful and she was surrounded by family, including her beloved daughter, Emily, and her baby sister, Nancy, who held her hands as she took her final breaths, and transitioned to the big adventure of the great unknown.

Susan was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1949, and would forevermore be known as a "Halloween baby." She grew up on First Street in the small mining town of Whitney, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Latrobe High School. Her independent spirit brought her to Pittsburgh where she became the first in her family to earn a college degree. Susan studied Social Work at Point Park University and dedicated 45 years of her life to the care and advocacy of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. She started her career with Citizen Care at Robinson Developmental Center and later worked for Staunton Clinic, Independence Professionals, and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

Susan married and had a daughter, Emily; and when she divorced, continued to co-parent extremely amicably with her daughter's father, Bobby Thomas. Together, Susan and Bobby made sure Emily knew she was and is the true love of their lives. Emily and Bobby have no reservation in saying Susan was the captain of their team.

Susan was very active in all of Emily's activities, regularly lending her time and creativity to events at the Church of the Assumption and Assumption Elementary in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, where she made her life for more than 30 years. Susan was incredibly dynamic, equally capable of leading the charge for food preparations at summer festivals, crafting costumes by hand for the Assumption Theatre Guild, or managing the kitchen for weekend bingo. She left a lasting mark on her community.

Susan loved crossword puzzles, mystery book series, interior design, live theater and musicals, sewing and crafting, swinging on porch swings, planting flowers in her yard, breakfast food for dinner, clothes and fashion, decorating for Christmas, cooking and baking (and referencing Cooks Illustrated), liver and onions, trips to the beach, making Emily's Halloween costumes and prom dresses, popcorn and ice cream, browsing aisles at the grocery store, long catch-up phone calls when the mood struck, coffee with cream, and a million other things. Susan was impressively good at extemporaneous speeches, generous with everything she had, and gave the best hugs. She was quick to laugh and funny without trying, incredibly warm, and a natural with children and animals. Susan was stylish and smart and most definitely an "idea person". She had vision. She was principled and didn't tolerate bigotry of any kind. Susan was forgiving and brave, was self-sufficient and had self-determination. She had patience and wisdom and resilience in spades. Susan was a believer in something more, and she was unafraid.

Susan is survived by her daughter, Emily Thomas and son-in-law, Michael Bykowski; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Gary Pennesi; nephew and niece-in-law, Jason and Brandie Kral; niece and nephew-in-law, Rebecca and Jason Schottel; nieces, Samantha and Gia Friedline; great-nephews, Justus Walker and Braiden and Charlie Kral; great-niece, Gabriella Kral; her cherished grand-dog, Sawyer, who loved "snoozin' with Susan" on a Sunday afternoon; and countless dear friends and family members.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ann Ottino; her brother, Bobby Ottino; and sister, Rene Ottino; her soulmate dog, Gizelle; and her adventurous cat, Shadow.

Susan's family is comforted by their enduring belief that Frank, Ann, Gizelle, Shadow, and most certainly Bobby and Rene were waiting to receive her on the other side. We will always love and miss Susan, the matriarch of our family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Arc, an organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A celebration of life memorial gathering will be held in the Spring. Arrangements by LAWRENCE T. MILLER FUNERAL HOME INC., Bellevue.