Tia

Mary Kay Breinig was a woman I’ve had the pleasure and the honor of knowing for close to fifty years. Intelligent, funny, and extremely giving, she lived a life of sharing with others. Tia, as we knew her, loved hearing about other people’s achievements and helping them to achieve their dreams. She had numerous degrees; before her retirement, she worked in medical research at Pitt and was an assistant professor. She loved to share knowledge and to hear about people learning! Every so often we come across people that we can't help but admire, Tia was one of these!

    One of her biggest loves was to share the arts with others, especially her nieces and nephews. Museums, ballet, the opera and the symphony, she was a frequent viewer. Culture was so important, she often asked, “Did we bring our manners with us?” Being an accomplished cook, she was forever trying new recipes for the family dinners held at her apartment and house. She was no stranger to new restaurants or chefs that were making the news. She loved to travel and often brought her nieces and nephews along on her trips.

    Tia wasn’t one to voice her displeasure; at least I never heard her complaining. No matter what your interests might be, she was happy that you were being successful in them.

    Mary Kay was the eldest of four sisters. Their family grew and grew, she had 11 nieces and nephews and like most family trees, the limbs kept increasing. She was God-Mother to eight.

    I have two fond memories of this woman, out of so many…I went with her, Barb and Joellen to London, “Across the Pond”.  She never led us anywhere, she allowed us to explore the city as if we were the experts, not her. We visited pubs, all the touristy sites and saw 3 different plays. At one of the theaters, we sat in a small box, just large enough for the four of us, and then enjoyed drinks which were served to us in our seats during intermission. We felt like royalty!  

2 of the playbills that she saved. (She saved them all!)

    We ate in style at a memorable New Years Eve dinner; meeting and sharing the evening with a couple from Canada that was sitting at a table beside ours. The menu was later framed and hung in the house for years. The next day, the first day of 1986, we took a bus tour to Stonehenge. There we walked among the prehistoric stones, seeing a site I had always dreamed of visiting.

    Tia and I took a trip to New York City to see Phantom of the Opera. Flying up in the morning and exploring the city and then after dinner, seeing the play which was still fairly new, in its first few years. Besides the enjoyment of the performance, I’ll always remember sitting on a wall in a small park that afternoon. We stopped to let our feet rest a bit before we continued exploring the city. A couple young men were smoking a joint near-by and after she commented on the smell, I told her what it was. I still have a little trouble imagining that she didn’t know…

    Being avid readers, we had often shared favorite authors and books. How could I not like a woman who enjoys reading?

    She taught us all to keep learning, keep exploring our world. And also to be kind and share yourself and your skills with those you love. She set a wonderful example of how we should live and hopefully we will come close to reaching her high standards!

    On February 24^th, 2023 she passed away, going to join those of the family that have left us before. Tia has left us behind and has gone on to further travels into the world(s) beyond. She spent 86 years on this earth, admired and appreciated on every one of the days that she was with us! We will all miss her deeply!