Emily E Onik

Emily Eileen Onik came into this world on February 3, 1983, in San Franciso, her beautiful jet-black curls charming everyone from the very beginning. Arriving between older brother Casey and younger brother Allan, she felt lucky to have two brothers who adored her and watched over her. Her childhood took her to Pittsburgh, where she firmly planted down her roots and flourished.
As a fastidious student and social butterfly, she always thrived in school, making honor rolls and forging friendships with equal aplomb. A lover of the sciences, she took advanced chemistry, biology, and anatomy classes at North Allegheny High School and continued her studies at the University of Maryland, where she majored in Public Health and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Upon graduation, her career trajectory took her to the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C. where she served as a Health Promotions Specialist. She poured her heart into the job encouraging the country's most powerful legal minds to give starfruit a try!
Recognizing her passion for teaching and desire to lead, she returned to school and got her Master's in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This ultimately led her to the classrooms and gyms of Seneca Valley and Hampton Township school districts, where she passionately taught Health and Physical Education for 15 years. She shared her love of movement and fitness with her students, promoting lifelong management of physical, emotional and mental wellness. Having endured her own struggles over the years, she was a fierce and avid mental health advocate. She was especially proud of starting a yoga elective at Hampton High School, creating a unique and safe space that appealed to students and teacher alike. Never one to cut corners, Ms. O put painstaking effort into every last detail of her work as a teacher and a generation of young minds, bodies, and souls are better off because of it.
When she wasn't teaching, Emily found joy in a myriad of activities such as hiking, biking, and camping in some of the world's most beautiful destinations like Scotland, the Waiwash in Peru, the G-10 in France and Costa Rica. She dominated the dancefloors and karaoke mics of many a dive bar in Pittsburgh, grabbing life by the horns and having as much fun as possible doing so. She was happiest when she was outside whether that was going for a walk at an impossibly fast pace or sharing a drink and a laugh with friends around the campfire. Children of all ages gravitated to her lighthearted humor and warm demeanor. Auntie Em always found the time to tell a story, play a game, read a book, or help a wide-eyed youngster master a new skill. She found great purpose in volunteering and devoted much of her time to advocating for those less fortunate.
With a kind heart, charitable soul, and compassionate spirit, she was generous with a compliment and quick with a laugh, an enchanting combination that pulled many lucky people into her orbit. But back to that laugh - oh, that laugh. That big, booming, uproarious laugh. The kind of laugh that stopped strangers in their tracks, craning their necks with intrigue and wonder. The kind of laugh that caused stand up comedians to question if she was a "plant" in that front row. The kind of laugh that instantly eased one's troubles and made them feel like the funniest person in the room. An antidote, a balm, a superpower.
In the spring of 2023, Emily noticed a lingering numbness in her hand, and knew something was amiss. By January of 2024, she was officially diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). For someone whose identity was so intertwined with her ability to express herself through movement and exercise, it was a particularly cruel diagnosis. Though her body weakened and pain grew, her signature tenacity and courageous strength of mind persisted, living on her own terms until the very end. Forever the teacher, she kept those around her informed and educated about the effects of the disease, while still finding moments to laugh at a good stand-up special or well-placed joke. Emily always felt like the luckiest person in the room to be surrounded and uplifted by a special group of close life long friends who carry each other in rough times and sing together when they are strong. Special loving thanks to them who never let her go.
To properly honor Emily and her indomitable spirit, we encourage you to move your body, nurture your mind, and give thanks for your good fortunes. Take a yoga class. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Go for a hike. Meditate. Play your favorite song and dance to your heart's content.
Emily is survived by her parents Betty and Gary, her brothers Casey and Allan, her sister-in-law Tiffany, her niece Ayla, her nephews Ari and Benjamin, her aunts Eileen Gorvin and Patricia Gorvin her uncle Howard Onik, many sweet cousins and a circle of dear friends, all of whom will miss her endlessly.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 1030 a.m. in Orchard Hill Church 2551 Brandt School Rd Wexford Pa 15090. Memorial luncheon to follow service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Emily's name to one of the organizations that were so close to her heart:
· Erika's Lighthouse - https://erikaslighthouse.org/
· The ALS Association - https://www.als.org/