The coronavirus has claimed another victim in Butler County and a strong one at that.

Wilhelmina Peluso, 96, a resident of Concordia at the Orchard in Center Township, died just before 9 p.m. Friday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

“She did not mince words ever. She was totally honest, and she was just so accepting,” said Wilhelmina's daughter, Pauline Peluso.

Her death brings the county's total to four.

Concordia spokesman Frank Skrip confirmed Peluso was the second resident of the Center Township facility to die from COVID-19 in as many days. Skrip also confirmed two other residents at the facility tested positive for the virus.

“It's a tragedy when something like that happens. We see a lot of that in this industry, and it's never easy,” Skrip said. “We're very sad for the family.”

Still reeling from the loss, Peluso's daughter reminisced about her beloved mother and the family's matriarch with the Butler Eagle on Saturday.

Born in 1923 in Holland, Willy — as she was known to so many — survived five years under German occupation during World War II before meeting.

“She raised five kids in the days of cloth diapers and wringer washing machines,” Pauline Peluso said of her mother. “She was very proud. She had Dutch pride.”The younger Peluso said she will miss taking her mother out for adventures. She will miss just sitting with her and watching TV.Most importantly, she will miss Willy's quiet and strong presence that was “ever-present” in the lives of her loved ones.Pauline said her mother had a favorite saying. One that came before and transcends today's pandemic. One that people really need to hear.“This too shall pass,” Willy would always say to people.“She kept saying that,” Pauline said.While Pauline slowly finds peace with her mother's death, she has also taken some issue with Concordia's administration. In the days before her mother first exhibited symptoms, Pauline spoke with multiple news outlets, voicing her concern that Concordia's use of personal protective equipment was optional and not mandatory.Peluso said her mother was a strong person — a 29-year breast cancer survivor — but “she was a sitting duck” in a nursing home for the coronavirus.Skrip, however, pointed out that even when PPE was optional, the facility was following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“This virus is tricky in that the guidance and the recommendations are changing every day,” Skrip said. “It's like trying to hit a moving target. We're doing what we can to keep up and follow recommendations.”According to Skrip, all of Concordia's direct caregivers are wearing N95 masks, and when they are treating a person with respiratory issues, they are wearing full PPE gear.Additionally, all auxiliary staff are wearing surgical masks.“Truly, we're putting a lot of resources behind the residents and staff at The Orchard to minimize this virus spreading even more,” Skrip said.Pauline stressed she doesn't want to confuse people between her frustrations with facility administrators and her feelings toward the nurses and staff who did everything they could to make her mother more comfortable.“There were so many acts of kindness,” she said. “The people on the front line directly dealing with my mother, it couldn't have been any better.”Pauline said she was appreciative of both the staff at Concordia and those at the hospital who were with her mother through her last breaths.“They're responsible for being the last person to take these people to their death,” Pauline said in admiration. “When they talk about the heroes on television. Oh my God.”Pauline said she will miss her mother every day, but holds close to her heart the wisdom her mother blessed her with.“This too shall pass,” she said.