Shirley A. "Fritz" Skiba

It is with great sadness that the family of Shirley A. Skiba announces her passing at age 77 on February 1, 2026, at UPMC Hamot Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Margaret (Bruno) Fritz and was born on August 30, 1948, in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was a graduate of St. Michael's elementary school, Strong Vincent High School (class of 1966), and Villa Maria College. A strong, generous, and warm-hearted person, Shirley was a proud sister of the Sisters of St. Joseph ("Sr. Therese Ann") for four years after high school. She was at various times a nurse's aide, a social worker, a care-giver at St Joseph's Orphanage, and teacher. She taught at St. Thomas's School in Corry, Pennsylvania, at Holy Rosary School in Erie, and, for the last 17 years of her career, at Blessed Sacrament School in Erie. How often her former students, now young adults, greeted "Mrs. Skiba" at the grocery store or the Mall!

She was a committed Catholic and read the Bible and said the Holy Rosary daily. She was a Girl Scout leader and was twice on parish council at St. Luke Church. She loved going to week-day masses whenever her schedule allowed. She was a life-time member of the Sertoma Ladies Group. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved reading and travel. Her life was full of meaning. She was a Woman in Full.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Margaret Fritz. She met the love of her life, Gary V. Skiba, in 1975: and they married on August 14, 1976, at Sacred Heart Church in Erie. She is survived by her husband and by her two beloved daughters, Margaret A. (Meg) Ullengren (Matthew) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Patrice S. (Trish) Lucas (Timothy) of Wexford, PA; by her four beloved grandchildren, Claire and Cole Ullengren and Grant and Jocelyn Lucas; by her beloved sister Therese Ashie (Scott) of Parma, Ohio; by her dear sister-in-law Susan Houser (James) of State College, PA; by her niece, Rylie Ashie; and by her nephews, Charles J. and Joseph Wasielewski. She leaves several dear cousins in Erie and also in St. Marys, PA.

Friends are invited to Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 2502 Sassafras St. Erie, PA 16502 on Thursday from 3 pm until 7:30 pm and are also invited on Friday to the Funeral Home at 9:15 am for the prayer service followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 am at St. Luke Church 421 E. 38th St. Erie, PA 16504. Burial will follow at Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com.

Flowers are welcome, but monetary contributions may be made to St. Luke Church for masses to be said in Shirley's memory.