Pamela Joyce Orlosky

Like Tennyson in his poem "Crossing The Bar," Pam wished that "…there be no sadness of farewell/when I embark;" to meet her "Pilot face to face/when I have crossed the bar." Pam might not be looking for her "Pilot," but she will be seeing loved ones who have gone before. Pam will be "home" again with her mother and father.

As she had for most of her life, Pam wanted no fuss to be made over her when she passed on, no service, no funeral, quite strict requests; she wanted to leave quietly, knowing she was loved by many and knowing she had loved many when she lived. A strong-willed person, Pam did things as she believed they should be done and seldom moved from that belief.

Pam worked hard all her life; as a teenager, she was a cashier at Hoffman's grocery store and Gulf Station, a now long-gone landmark at the corner of Budd Street and Dock Avenue, when gas was around 20 cents per gallon. Though she was a neighborhood kid, she made everyone pay—no friends or family got freebies. The Hoffmans (an older couple) trusted Pam completely, and she deserved that trust. She maintained that same work ethic through various jobs leading to the last one she held for many years as the Dry Cleaning Empress of Shenango Valley, working up from employee to managerial levels, knowing the ins and outs of the business and becoming a reliable, every ready professional who kept our athletic teams in fresh game uniforms.

Yet, the thing Pam worked hardest at was caring for and appreciating others; Pam cared for her own family, raising and staying close to two loving children and Tammy, sharing life with husband Ed for over 50 years (with lots of trips to casinos), developing long-lasting friendships (Linda and Debbie), looking after her mother Eva (especially after father Collin died). Pam also appreciated and enjoyed the love and support from her siblings and friends who rallied around Pam during the past few years as she struggled with several health issues. All through the wearying cycle of hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabs, even with all the visits and calls she had from those who loved her, what Pam looked most forward to was going home. Home was where her heart was.

Now, Wansor siblings Terry, Jeff, Janice and Janet, sister-in-law Nancy, children Eddie and Tammy, son-in-law Scott (whom she cherished), husband Ed and Pam's friends, as well as all the loving nieces and nephews from the Shenango Valley and from Cool Valley, in Greensburg, PA, need not feel a sadness of farewell, just all smile and say goodbye. Pam will be happy and free from suffering; she has gone home.