Eralda C. Newbaker

Eralda “Rae” Newbaker, 92, formerly of Greensburg, PA., passed peacefully on March 28, 2024, surrounded by family and caregivers. Daughter of the late Josephine Ciranni Cario and Vittorio Cario, she is survived by her daughter, Paula C. Newbaker and her son Edward Jay Newbaker IV, both of Penn Township, PA.; her sister, Betty Moore of Gibsonia, PA.; and her sister, Ida Verno, of West Chester, PA.; six nieces and nephews, and two grand-nephews. Mama Mia! Mother of Mine! This appropriate exclamation shows our love for our mother, her honoring of her mother, and her deep affection for her Italian heritage. She used it often. She was a force, charming, beautiful, classy, full of grace, tons of fun, strong, warm and feisty. She also let you know exactly what she thought in no uncertain terms. Although life was a struggle as the daughter of Italian immigrants, there was strong support from her extended family as she lived her early years in Pittsburgh. “Atomic A Rae” graduated with honors from Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh in 1949. Her favorite job was working as a secretary at the Carnegie Museum of Art, where she had no idea that the young Andy Warhol, who signed in at her desk, would become an icon. She met her husband, Edward J. Newbaker III, as a seminary student, while attending the Presbyterian church’s outreach programs in the Italian-American Community. Her life changed as she became a pastor’s wife, and in no small way she contributed to the life of several churches in small communities in Pennsylvania. In Greensburg, PA, she had another fun job at the Westmoreland County Department of Parks and Roads, where she helped with events, not the least of which is the annual Westmoreland County Arts and Heritage Festival. She worked to create the very first Festival, now an event with hundreds of thousands of visitors.  She continued her church activities at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Greensburg. She raised children and went to their dozens of activities. She was active in the Italian Women’s Club, Leisure Learners, the Red Hats Society, and the Garden Club at various points in her life. She loved angels and flowers. She visited and vacationed with her adult children all over the country. In Washington, DC, President Bill Clinton waved directly to her at church one Easter Sunday. She attended her daughter’s choral concerts at the Kennedy Center. She watched her son travel the world in his civilian job with the Navy.  Her later years saw a move to into her son’s home, where she was cared for by her children, caregivers and later on, hospice. Her family’s immigration story was recorded by her and other family members, and is kept in posterity at the Heinz History Center.  But who was she, really? Later in life, she was a woman with dementia fighting many, many daily health battles which would have seen the much earlier demise of a lesser soul. She faced it with grace, gratitude, faith, and dignity. No complaining. Only thanking and loving many, many times a day. She had gone back to her original Catholic faith and held it close. She was the epitome of strength. We could all learn a lot from her.
A Gathering will be held on Saturday, April 20th from 2pm to 3pm at the KEPPLE-GRAFT Funeral Home, 524 N. Main Street, Greensburg, PA. The Sacred Service will begin in the funeral home at 3pm and a live stream will be available on Rae’s obituary on the funeral home website or by visiting: https://my.gather.app/remember/eralda-newbakerhttps://my.gather.app/remember/eralda-newbakerhttps://my.gather.app/remember/eralda-newbaker
This will be followed by “Memories of Mom” reception at the Grandeur Estate at 133 Oakland Ave., Greensburg, PA., at 4:30 PM. All flowers will be donated to area nursing facilities. For livestream, online condolences, and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com