Raymond Joseph "Ray" Brentin

Raymond "Ray" Joseph Brentin, beloved husband of Janelle H. Brentin and loving father of Christopher L. Serrapere and Maria Elizabeth Brentin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at the age of 67. He was born April 24, 1954, in Pittsburgh, PA a son of the late Emil Anthony Brentin and Mildred Amelia (Hofmeister) Brentin. He grew up in Bridgeville, PA. He graduated from Bishop Canevin Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA in 1972 and briefly attended Community College of Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh before serving four honorable years in the U. S. Navy (1973-77) during which time he received a National Defense Service Medal. After the Navy, Ray began work at Simplex Grinnell in 1977 in Pittsburgh, PA and held various positions during his time in Pittsburgh. In 2003, he was offered a District General Manager position in Columbia, SC and moved south. In 2010 he met Janelle the new love of his life and they later married in 2016. After 38 plus years of service with Simplex Grinnell/Tyco/Johnson Controls, he retired in June 2016 in Columbia, SC.
Ray embraced retirement. He stayed in close touch and enjoyed spending time with dear friends and family, from SC and the "Burgh"; he enjoyed the Attic Jams; listening to 3 Guys and My Dad, Elliott and the Untouchables; playing poker with his Lake Murray buddies; going to Merlefest; loved playing golf with all his buddies: his Tuesday/Thursday golf partner, his Saturday golf buddies, his "Burgh" buddies, and the Seniors at Mid-Carolina Country Club. He loved Spanish lessons on Wednesdays, Julia's on Mondays, eating Mexican weekly with grandchildren. Ray always loved and looked forward to the annual Brentin family reunions and spending time with his siblings, son, daughter, nieces, nephews, his youngest granddaughter, great nieces, great nephews and other close relatives. He enjoyed swimming and loved traveling to new places. Three of his favorite vacations were cruising with Chris and Maria; riding the mules into the Grand Canyon with Janelle and two of the grandchildren and spending a month in Croatia where he was fortunate enough to be able to visit the little town of Veli Brgud and tour the home where his grandfather was born and raised. Ray embraced life!
Ray is survived by his wife, Janelle H. Brentin of Irmo, SC; two children, Christopher L. Serrapere of Bridgeville, PA and Maria Elizabeth Brentin of Verona, PA; mother of his children, Dianne Serrapere Brentin of Bridgeville, PA; a stepdaughter, Michele (Michael) Stanley of Newberry, SC; grandchildren, Addie Serrapere, Mckenzie Brady, Blake Stanley and Mason Brady; two brothers, Richard (Kathy) Brentin of Germantown, MD and Regis (Linda) Brentin of Pittsburgh, PA; three sisters, Eileen Fisher of Pittsburgh, PA, Elizabeth (John) Snyder of Burgettstown, PA and Mary Ann (Joe) Bartoletta of Vienna, VA; sister-in-laws, Waletha Rish and Roxann Harris both of Columbia, SC; brother-in-law, Duffy Hobbs of San Antonio, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews all who he dearly, dearly loved. We will all miss him dearly!
Family and friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022, in the Beinhauer-Fryer Funeral Home, 430 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Corpus Christi Parish, Holy Child Church, 212 Station Street, Bridgeville, PA 15017. Interment will be held at St. Agatha Cemetery, 3190 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017.
In lieu of flowers: Requesting donations be made to your cancer charity of choice.