Edwin R. Pitera

Edwin Richard Pitera, 88, of Braintree died January 15, 2015 with his family by his side.

Ed was born on May 14, 1926 in Boston, MA to Karol and Helen (Jachym) Pitera.

Ed went to high school in Boston and during his senior year was enlisted in the Army Airforce where he trained and taught pilots survival skills needed during war. He met his sweetheart Eleanor (Bertolami) Pitera at age 15 and married her in 1949. He was also a religious man who directed the Altar Boys program at St. Mark’s Church in Dorchester.

Ed had a passion for gardening, loved music, and traveling the US and abroad, Italy and Hawaii being his favorite places. He was an intellect with an eager and curious mind for constant learning and reading, especially The National Geographic magazine. Ed was a kind hearted and loving family man who put his family first, always creating and thinking of new adventures and fun activities to do with his children and grandchildren. He had a big heart, always willing to help others in need. He had a way of making people feel accepted and loved, and as his family grew he welcomed each new addition with open arms. Ed was loved for his warm, welcoming smile, gentle, humble persona, and fun-loving way of making ordinary activities into extraordinary moments and memories, and he will be missed tremendously.

He is survived by his four children; daughter Sandra (Pitera) Brodie and spouse Ken Brodie, sons Richard Pitera, John Pitera, and Thomas Pitera and spouse Sutjanun Pitera, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Sunday 1-5 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital)  Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 10 AM on Monday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Braintree at 11 AM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Randolph.

Donations in memory of Edwin may be made to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 or www.dav.org/donate.