She was a first lady of Pittsburgh. The matriarch, hero, and protector of her family. We will always love her. We thought she would never leave us. We thought she would live forever. It would break her heart to see us crying. We lost Jennie Spinale on January 27, 2023. Born March 11,1926, she lived a beautiful and fearless life until her last breath.

No more long tables stretching the length of a house at the Holidays; frozen is the oven that cooked the Italian cookies; silent is the music that played from the old radio in the kitchen; gone is the Sunday red sauce and walks on the streets of Pittsburgh. When the last train whistle blows-(signaling goodbye)-Jennie will always be on our mind and in our hearts. She was an inspiration. Its not about what she did but how she lived her life. Never an ill word spoken about another. Everyday was lived with exuberance and excitement. She never wasted a minute. She lived with passion and happiness. When she held your hand, you knew you were the only person that mattered. When she cooked a meal, we knew it was prepared with love. And that love was never ending—it was boundless and filled with joyful rhythm. In her presence, we never felt alone or lost; her voice made you believe that dreams do come true. Right was right—there was no such thing as moral compromise in the life and times of Jennie Spinale. She loved her city, the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. We can still her voice screaming with excitement at the TV when the Steelers were playing.

Jennie Spinale was married to Peter Spinale on July 5, 1947. She was mother to five children, Antoinette Jackson (Michael), Francesca Sirianni, Andrew, Regina, and Christina Scott (Joseph); and the loving grandmother of six (6) grandchildren, seven (7) great grandchildren. Her distant family came to America long ago, and as a Second-Generation Italian she believed in the miracle and promise of America. She shared a wonderful life in this city with her sisters: Angelina Och, Beatrice Yurjevich, and Josephine Plunkard

She will be with us everywhere we go. Jennie—if you can hear us calling, know that we are proud of you; we are blessed to learn so many lessons from the way you lived. We can’t wait to see you in Heaven with the Father and His Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Preceded in death by her husband Peter P. Spinale, her parents Salvatore and Francesca Fastuca, and sister, Angelina Och.

A Mass of Christian Burial in honor of Jennie Spinale will be held on MONDAY at Sacred Heart Church - Regina Coeli Parish, 154 Orchard Avenue, Emsworth, PA 15202 at 10 AM. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. The committal service will be held in the Mausoleum Chapel at Christ Redeemer Cemetery in Ross Twp.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jennie Spinale’s name may be made to the Hospice Donations, Healthcare at Home, Allegheny Health Network, Office of Fund Development, Hospice and Palliative Care, 4818 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224, ahn.org. Arrangements by the Rex T. Smith Funeral Home, Northside.