Paytas

Albert Paul Paytas passed away peacefully at home Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.

He was born Dec. 28, 1927, in his family’s farmhouse in Renfrew. “The Farm” was the center of Albert’s life for his 98 years on Earth.

He worked on the farm as a child and in his adult life, alongside his brother Stanley, Albert kept the farm vibrant, beautiful and preserved for his family to enjoy for generations to come. Albert worked hard his entire life. Following his service in the Army immediately after World War II in Germany, Albert was employed at Keck’s Service Station, while also working on the farm. He then went to Armco Steel where he spent the next 32 years. He was very proud of his Armco career and advanced to be a roller of stainless steel prior to his retirement.

Retirement, however, was not a word Albert understood. He continued his second full-time job — the farm — until he was physically unable, which was well into his 80s. He raised beef cattle, bailed hay and grew the best sweet corn around, which he sold out of the back of his pickup at the end of Powder Mill Road for many years.

Albert and his wife of 65 years, Dorothy, built their home on the farm where they raised four children, Katherine, Patricia, William and Donna, who all helped in his care during these last several years. Everyone helped on the farm, especially William “Billy” (on his John Deere tractor), and enjoyed countless picnics, Christmas Eve dinners and “Reunions” with Albert’s eight siblings and their families. Many of Albert’s stories are still shared at these gatherings, including the horse who returned to the farm from a Lyndora bar without his rider (Albert’s Dad), sheep shearing with brother Frank and antics with his brother Stanley (paint mishaps and groundhog “hunting”).

Hand in hand with Albert’s love of farming was his love of all things mechanical, which caused him to get his driver’s license at age 15, leading to a lifetime of an incorrect birth date on his license. He could master operating any piece of equipment in a matter of minutes. He was also a great mechanic, which he had to be, because he operated his small farm on a small budget. Albert liked to say, “Anyone can farm with new stuff. I farm with junk.” Albert also liked to hunt (getting his last deer at age 86), ride a bicycle backward, sing drinking songs after a few IC Lights and mow the lawn at the age of 97.

He was the “salt of the earth” and a man of faith as a life-long member of All Saints Parish and volunteered for many years to count collections on Sundays following Masses. Albert and Dorothy especially enjoyed attending the monthly pancake breakfasts with their grandchildren, and going out to dinner on Saturday nights.

Albert was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his parents, Frank and Helen (Chajka) Paytas; and his siblings, Mary, Martha, dearest Rosie, Frank, John, Joseph, Stanley and Steve.

He is survived by his children, Katherine, Patricia (Gary, aka Corey) Salerno, William “Billy,” and Donna (Jake) Friel; his grandchildren, Joseph Friel, Tyler Friel, Christina (Joseph) Nagel; his great-grandchildren, Charlotte Mae and Bentley; his sisters-in-law, Nancy Paytas and Dorothy Veselich; and several nieces and nephews and extended members of the Paytas family.

Albert’s family thanks Good Samaritan Hospice and their remarkable staff, especially Emily, Mackenzie, Megan, Aaron and Anthony. We are also indebted to our caregivers Marcia, Judy and Toni for their love, commitment and compassion to Albert and our family.

We have a special request of our family members and friends who have enjoyed a party, a wedding, or a holiday on “The Farm” — to have an IC Light (or a bowl of Cheerios) to toast Al for leaving us this beautiful legacy.

PAYTAS — Friends and family members of Albert Paul Paytas, who died Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION CENTER, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at All Saints Parish — St. Conrad Roman Catholic Church, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler. Everyone please meet at church.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.