Margaret Mary Irene Pittner

With great surprise but even greater joy, we found out you had joined our family on August 3, 2019.  After Mommy got to see you at her first ultrasound appointment on August 27, we told your siblings Anna Grace, Daniel Overman, Amelia Rose, and Bernadette Raenelle that they were getting a new brother or sister.  They could hardly contain their excitement and couldn’t wait to share the news—they proudly made big brother and big sister signs to show friends and family.  They even accompanied Mommy to the doctor’s office, where they got to hear your sweet heartbeat.  As a family, we talked about what names we might give you, and your big sister Amelia was the first to suggest Margaret for a girl.

We decided to find out as early as possible whether you were a boy or girl, so at Mommy’s last appointment on October 16, we asked the sonographer to look.  The doctor came in moments later to tell Mommy you had gone to heaven at just 18 weeks old; but the nurse was also able to tell us that you were our fourth daughter.  When Mommy told Daddy you were gone, we picked out your name: Margaret Mary, after the saint on whose feast day we learned you’d gone to heaven, and Irene, after your great grandmother.  Your earthly body, so tiny but perfectly formed, was born on October 22, 2019, at 2:00 in the morning.  Mommy and Daddy got to hold you and wrap you in the blanket Mommy knit just for you.

Though you are missed desperately by your family and friends, we know you are safe in the arms of Jesus and our Heavenly Mother Mary.  You join your great grandparents, Thomas and Grace deHaas, Raenelle Pittner, Wayne Kelly, and Don Schaefer in heaven.  You are survived by your great grandmothers, Irene Gasior and Florence Kelly-Schaefer; your great grandfather, John B. Pittner; your grandparents, Mary Beth and Bob Gasior, and Patricia and John Pittner; and your aunts and uncles, Bobby, Katie, and Grace Gasior, and Ben Pittner.