Esther Pedano

Esther “Nana” Marcella (Riazzi) Pedano, age 92, of Erie, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at Elmwood Gardens, surrounded by her loving family. Born on April 10, 1930, to Rose (Campanini) and Patrick Riazzi, of Erie, PA.

Esther was one-of-a-kind, an incredibly special and beautiful person inside and out. She lived a beautiful, full-filled life. As a child, Esther attended Irving Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and was a graduate of Strong Vincent High School (Class of 1948.) She grew up singing in the choir with her brother, Pat (90, of Melbourne, Florida,) whom she had a close relationship with all of her life.

Shortly after graduating from high school, she fell in love with Sam Pedano and they married on October 31, 1948, in Erie, PA. Married for 66 years, they enjoyed dancing together, tennis, and spending time with their good friends and family, especially holidays and Sundays (dinner) with the entire family at their Oakwood Street home. They owned Forget-Me-Not Florist in Erie for many years and had three beautiful children Kathy Potosnak (Rick) of Erie, Christopher Pedano (Louise) of Windsor, Canada, and Susie D’Aurora (Tony) of Erie. Esther’s family was everything to her. She was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Parish and attended church on Sundays for many years. Not only a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Esther was an incredibly amazing cook. She enjoyed sewing, cross-stitch, and tap dancing, as a Catherine Little “Glamorette” until the age of 74. What made dancing even more special was dancing with three generations.

As Esther got older, she enjoyed watching football, Hallmark, cooking (as she lived on her own until she was 92 years old,) reading, and spending time with her family. Nana was so blessed in so many ways, seeing 8 great-grandchildren be born is one, whom she was known as “Nannie” to. Her wise words of wisdom and advice to her family will live on, be cherished, and remembered always and forever!    

The Family would like to express their gratitude to Elmwood Gardens for their wonderful care.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Pedano who died in 2014.

Along with her three children, Esther is the grandmother of Jamie Potosnak (Angela), Matt Potosnak (Nicole), Angela D’Aurora, Jennifer  Potthoff (Jerad), Anthony D’Aurora, Jr., Patrick Pedano (Abby), Carlin Ponce (Adam), Stephan Charette (Rhea) and Jeanne Charette. She is the great-grandmother of Hanna, Drew, and Charlotte Potosnak, Abriella and Asher Potthoff, Adalyn Ponce, Ellie and Teddy Pedano, and Iva, Cedric, and Alphie Charette.

Friends are invited to call at the Quinn Funeral Home, West 9^th & Liberty St. on Tuesday August 23,2022 from 3:00pm until 7:00 pm and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Wednesday at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Condolences can be sent to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com