Vanessa Marie Pitofsky

Vanessa Marie Michael Pitofsky was born on March 13, 1971 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and died tragically on February 24, 2014 in her Dallas, Texas home.
Vanessa graduated from Lake Travis High School in 1989 where she was a member of the Cavalettes. She was a 1991 graduate of Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas where she obtained an Associates of Arts Degree in Dance. She then graduated from the University of North Texas in 1995 where she earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Dance. Vanessa worked as an executive assistant at several banking institutions in the Dallas area, with Sun Trust being her most recent employer.
Vanessa was a loving daughter, wife, sister, stepmother; faithful friend and co-worker, devoted mother to her beloved furry babies, Sig and Zach; and a passionate supporter of those less fortunate. Vanessa epitomized 1 Corinthians 13 (the Excellence of Love).
She will be forever missed by so many, whose lives she has touched and changed.
Some of the organizations that Vanessa supported included assisting at animal shelters, serving meals at the homeless shelter on holidays, participating in the City Square Food on the Move in Dallas, working with women's shelters, volunteering at Helping Hands and Meals on Wheels. Vanessa was also an avid runner and supported her causes through participating in their runs, including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
As if anticipating her life journey's end, she left a note for her family requesting her earthly belongings be donated to various charitable organizations including: Goodwill, Genesis Women's Shelter and Habitat for Humanity…She continues to touch lives even today.
Vanessa is survived by her loving parents Alida Opsatnik Michael and Ray Michael, Jr., stepmother Sherrie Michael and brother Jason Michael, all of Cedar Park, TX; grandfather Andrew Opsatnik of Aliquippa, PA; uncles Andrew M. and Jeffrey Opsatnik of Rochester, PA; aunt Janet Michael of Aliquippa, PA, aunt and uncle Linda and Don Miller of Lithia Springs, GA and aunt and uncle Rita and Rick Janicki of Aliquippa PA; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Vanessa is preceded in death by her grandfather and grandmother Raymond and Lillian Michael, grandmother Adriana Obsatink and cousin Caleb Miller.
A public visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. Vanessa's short life will be celebrated after the visitation at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday and the interment will follow at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville.
Friends and family are invited to a reception following the interment at the Cedars Events Center located at 15803 Windermere Dr, Suite 603 in Pflugerville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a battered women's shelter or animal rescue organization in her name.