Willamina Klutinoty
Willamina “Billie” S. Klutinoty, 96, of Butler, beloved mother and yiayia, passed away peacefully at her home on Jan. 23, 2021.
Billie lived a wonderful life filled with family, hard work, faith, and lots of good food.
Billie never met a stranger. She spent decades running the Hot Dog Shop in Slippery Rock, where she fed and befriended hundreds of people, many of whom she stayed in touch with in the 20 years since her retirement.
Billie grew up in Vandergrift, Pa., and she was the youngest and smallest of three sisters. She was the daughter of the late Gus and Rose (Villano) Sofianos.
Billie told everyone she was blessed with the best parents and sisters anyone could ever ask for.
In 1950, Billie married Tony Klutinoty, and they had two children, Rosalyn (Denillo) and James, who were the highlight of her life.
“How could I ask for better children?”
Billie genuinely loved people. She loved to feed her family and friends. She loved to eat, especially spaghetti and hot dogs. She loved Greek dancing and Greek music. She loved to laugh. She loved coffee. She always played her “number” even though she rarely ever won. She loved bragging about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to everyone she met. She loved Target. She loved giving life advice and “Yaya”-isms. Everybody who met Yaya loved Yaya.
Billie was a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and she belonged to the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle, Pa. She had an immense faith and trust in God, and she had a very long daily prayer list, which guided her through her life.
Billie was predeceased by her beloved parents; her older sisters and best friends, Patricia “Pata” Sofianos and Katherine “Tina” Pappas; her husband, Tony; her brother-in-law, Buddy; her sister-in-law, Fontaine; her son-in-law, Lou; her twin grandsons, Anthony and Gregory; her niece, Stephanie; and her nephew, Tom.
She is survived by her children, Roz and Jimmy (Laurie); her grandchildren, Maria (Josh), Alecia, Christos and Grace; her great-grandchildren, Avery, Graham and Maura, who will always remember that “Yaya Yaya” always had pizzelles and lollipops for them; her brother-in-law, Dr. George Klutinoty (Ledah); several cousins, nieces and nephews; and countless friends who were like family.
Billie’s family meant everything to her, and she meant everything to them.
KLUTINOTY — Her Greek Orthodox funeral services and burial with the Rev. Fr. Michael Gavrilos officiating were held privately through the SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 New Castle Rd., Butler.
In lieu of flowers, please perform a random act of kindness to brighten someone’s day in Billie’s memory.
Please visit www.spencerdgeibel.com.
