LuAnn Santillo, 71

Mrs. LuAnn Santillo, 71, of Ellwood City passed away peacefully on Friday, May 30th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Born March 9th, 1954, in New Brighton, a daughter of the late Harry and Louise Seibel. She was a member of the Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer Church.

She graduated from New Brighton High School in 1972. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from Edinboro University. She completed her graduate work in the master’s program at the University of Pittsburgh, studying Early Childhood Education. LuAnn’s passion for teaching and love for children shaped a remarkable career as a Kindergarten and Pre-K teacher in the Riverside School District. The decades that she spent teaching left a lasting impact on generations of students and families.

LuAnn is the proud author of Half Pint Kids, an early reading series that continues to help beginning readers around the world discover the joy of literacy. Her work will live on with these books and provide a legacy of learning and love.

She approached life with creativity and determination. She had the ability to transform any space through her love of cleaning, organizing, and decorating. As a dreamer with a vision board, she achieved every goal she set her heart on. She enjoyed cooking and baking. Some of her favorite things to make were homemade dough for pepperoni bread and lasagna.

Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She treasured every moment spent at her lakehouse at Lake Latonka, where she created lifelong memories with her children and grandchildren – especially during their treasured sleepovers.

LuAnn is survived by her devoted husband of 43 years, Raymond Santillo, whom she married on April 24th, 1982; her children, Megan (David) Moore of Ellwood City, Jenna (Gary) Valentino of Ellwood City, Michael Santillo of Ellwood City, and Katie (Kyle) Knisley of Beaver, PA; and her six grandchildren: Angelo, Adrian, Marco, Marina, Annie, and William.

She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Michael (Priscilla), Bob (Gayle), Gary, Tom (Pam) Santillo; her sister-in-law, Jane Santillo; as well as many dear nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents, LuAnn was preceded in death by her brother, Harry Seibel; in-laws, Michael and Christina Santillo, brother-in-law, Richard Santillo and sister-in-law Barbara Santillo.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 4th, at 10:00 AM at Divine Grace Parish, Holy Redeemer church with Father Joseph Freedy officiating. Interment will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in LuAnn’s honor to a charity of your choice.