Doris Jean Hunzeker

Doris Jean (Ertel) Hunzeker, age 92, of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, was peacefully called home to be with the Lord on June 23, 2026. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 1, 1934, to the late Milton Ertel and Doris (Brazier) Ertel. She married her high school sweetheart, the big man on campus, George R. Hunzeker Jr. on May 7, 1955. Doris was preceded in death by George R. Hunzeker Jr., her loving husband of 56 years; her parents, Milton and Doris Ertel; her sister, Bertha Marshall; and her brother, Milton Ertel. She is survived by her four children, Karen (Robert) Hallisey of South Heights, PA; Leslie Hunzeker (Michael Hardy) of Blawnox, PA; William (Leisa) Hunzeker of Verona, PA; and George Hunzeker III (Caroline) of Cheswick, PA and her Sister-in-Law, Louise Mannella of Clearwater, Florida. She was a proud and loving Nana to eleven grandchildren - Sean Hallisey, Cassandra McKinney, Cory Hallisey (Alexys), Ryan Hallisey (Amy Wright), Ashley Bengele (Greg); Jared Ruggieri (Katherine); Devin Parker (Andrew); Brian Hunzeker (Mary); Brady Hunzeker (Alexys); Bre Hunzeker; and Madeline Hunzeker. She was further blessed with fifteen great-grandchildren (Gibson, Will, Jack, Eli, Freya, Giovanni, Thea, Miles, Harper, Presley, Maggie, Lucy, Hazelle, Jettie and Woods. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all. Doris was a graduate of Aspinwall High School, a homemaker, and worked for many years as the bookkeeper alongside her husband at the family business, Hunzeker Radiator Company in Pittsburgh, PA. She had a wonderful business sense and knew exactly where every single penny went. She loved working with numbers and ledgers and balanced her checkbook for fun. After retirement, she spent many winters with her husband at her home in Palm Harbor, Florida. She loved the beach, her banana tree, hosting visiting family and friends, and enjoying cocktails on the patio during the warm Florida nights. She especially loved the many, many summers spent with family and friends at her cottage along the Allegheny River. She lived a life of tremendous passion. She was intelligent, inquisitive, loved to laugh and had a rare sense of wonder. She wanted to do and see everything. She enjoyed gardening, travelling, drinking a good glass of wine (or a bad one), and she never passed a Goodwill store without stopping. She mostly loved spending time with her family, especially the "littles", who all loved her tremendously and couldn't wait to see and play with their "Nana". The world was made better by her presence in it and it is lessened by her absence. There is no funeral service or visitation planned at this time. A memorial service will be planned for a date in the future. Professional services entrusted to Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home & Crematory Ltd; 930 Center Avenue Blawnox, PA, 15238; www.thomasmsmithfuneralhome.com.

Doris Jean Hunzeker

January 1, 1934 - June 23, 2026