Obituary of Patricia Colonna

Patricia Colonna Age 91, of Pittsburgh, went to the Lord on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, surrounded by her family. Pat was born in Brackenridge, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph F. Bayer Sr. and Mina Simmers Bayer, and attended Har-Brack High School. She was one of the first graduates of Pitt’s BSN program, eventually completing a master’s in nursing and working and teaching at Children’s Hospital. A lay Franciscan, Pat served as a missionary nurse and teacher in Papua New Guinea in the 1960s with the Capuchin Franciscans, then returned to Pittsburgh to marry Al Colonna, whom she had met in the Legion of Mary. She was very active in pro-life work, being one of the original founders of Birthright of Pittsburgh; helped to start the 1 Corinthians 13 prayer group at St. Lawrence O’Toole parish; and, with her husband, ran First Friday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Lawrence for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Colonna; her brother, Joseph Bayer, Jr.; and her sister, Rita Leyn. She is survived by her daughters, Rachel Milano of Savannah, GA, and Maria Colonna Muckle (Paul) of Pittsburgh, PA; her grandchildren, Ava, Isaiah, Elijah, Noah, Gina, and Joseph; a great-granddaughter, Celestine; a sister, Elizabeth Baxter of Carnegie, PA; and many nieces, nephews and beloved friends. Friends will be received at McCabe Bros., Inc. Funeral Home, 5300 Penn Avenue, Bloomfield on Friday, January 13th from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, January 14 at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, St. Augustine Church, followed by interment at Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s name can be made to the Seraphic Mass Association for Masses in her memory, which supports the Capuchin missions in Papua New Guinea and elsewhere. Condolences may be left at www.mccabebrothers.com