Virginia Julia Eyrolles

Peacefully, on Sunday, May 29, 2011, Virginia, 99, of Pleasant Hills. Beloved wife of the late Jean Pierre Eyrolles. Loving mother of Jean R. (Dolores) Eyrolles of South Park and Alfred Michael Eyrolles of Pleasant Hills. She is survived by her dear sister Aurelie Benedetti, age 101, of Pleasant Hills and her niece Yvonne Johnson of Mallard, ME. She was preceded in death by her parents Amiable & Emerance Livemont, one sister Marie “Babe” Johnson Graillet and 2 great grandsons Jaison E. Eyrolles and John N. Eyrolles. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Roger (Susan), Suzanne (Mark), Janet (Don), David, Robert (Charlene), Jean (Janice), Lawrence and Dale (Lisa); 15 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren. Born in France in 1911, she came to America as an infant with her family and settled in Arnold, PA. There, she met her husband Jean and married in 1927. They had 2 sons, Junior & Al, born in 1928 and 1930, respectively. They moved during the Depression and WWII, as Jean worked in various US Steel mills in the Mon Valley. Ever the “go-getter”, Virginia raised her sons and helped her family by selling donuts and flowers during those hard times. In 1942, they settled in Baldwin Boro., where they formed the Hammond Brick & Supply Co. of PA in the late 1940s. A remarkable salesperson with tremendous energy and the ability to relate to large corporation executives, Virginia was eminently successful during the post-WWII building boom of the 50s and 60s in western PA. She was a fixture in Allegheny County Democratic politics during the Renaissance years. After her husband’s death in 1970, she remained the operator of the Hammond Brick Co. until her death. Despite her lack of formal education, Virginia could converse in 4 languages and mastered the ability to operated Hammond Brick. She was the beloved matriarch of her family and had a special relationship with each member of that family. She was a strong-willed woman, competitive by nature, maintained her residence in Pleasant Hills, a valid PA driver’s license and operated her beloved Cadillac into her 98th year. Virginia was a loving person with a heart of gold who cared deeply for people and animals and was always willing to lend help to anyone in need. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Friends received Monday 7-9 PM and Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Griffith Mortuary, Inc., 5636 Brownsville Rd., Broughton-Curry-South Park Twp. Funeral prayer Wednesday at 9:30 AM with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in St. Elizabeth Church. Online condolences at www.griffithmortuary.net.