June K. Pessia, 91, formerly of 34 Homestead Avenue, Bradford, passed away on February11, 2024, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home surrounded by her loving family.
June and her twin sister, Janet, were born June 17, 1932, in Grove City. They were the daughters of the late Glenn and Pearl (Perrine) Snyder. Her mother Pearl passed away during childbirth. Both twins were adopted shortly after birth, and in the height of the Depression, by George A. and Bessie (Elder) Koehler. The Snyder and Koehler families remained close with many Snyder family members attending June’s 90th birthday celebration in 2022.
A 1950 graduate of Bradford High School, June played the flute and piccolo in the high school band and was a sharpshooter on the rifle team.
June married Lawrence R. Pessia on December 29, 1962. Married for 48 years, he preceded her in death on October 26, 2011.
She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church and later the Four Square Gospel Church, both in Bradford.
In 1967 with three young children at home, June went to work for The Bradford Era as a proofreader. At night and on weekends, she studied for her journeyman printer’s certificate from the International Typographical Union which she received in 1969. After that she began working in the print shop of The Bradford Era and experienced many of the technological changes in printing over the next 30 years -- from setting type by hand to early computer-generated punch tape to the first multi-media production processes. June retired from The Era in 1997.
She was a member of the International Typographical Union for 28 years where she served as secretary/treasurer during most of that time.
June had a strong sense of right and wrong and was willing to do whatever it took to do the right thing. On her way to work one evening, she saw a man grab a woman’s purse on Main Street and begin running away. She hollered, “Stop! Stop him!” and took up the chase for several blocks. As others joined in, she was able to point the way to where the thief was finally apprehended. The following day, she was featured in The Bradford Era as a local hero. Similarly, when her daughter wanted to go to college in 1973 but the school refused to offer financial aid, June and her mother Bessie drove to Buffalo, planted themselves in the financial aid office, and talked them into a generous financial aid package.
June is survived by one daughter, Deborah Dennis (Wendy Hord) of Albany, NY; two sons, Greg (Dusti) Dennis of Erie, and Wayne (Anne) Pessia, of Heath, OH; ten grandchildren, Sam (Jaime) Blanchard, Kristinna Blanchard, Thomas Blanchard, Jr., Rachel (Kyra) Dennis, Matthew Dennis, John (Audrianna) Pantuso, Andrew (Cassandra) Pantuso, Katelyn (TJ) Pessia, Jacob (Carissa) Pessia, and Zachary (Ashley) Pessia: two great-granddaughters, Madelyn Pessia and Rosie Pantuso.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Larry, two sisters, Twila Hulon and twin sister, Janet Wright, who passed away on November 23, 2020; three brothers, Lloyd Snyder, Gerald Snyder, and Walter Snyder.
At the family's request there will be no public services. Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in McKean Memorial Park.
Donations, if desired, may be made in June’s name for her pioneering contributions to working mothers to: Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Bradford, PA, (www.ywcabradford.org).
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc.
Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com.