Willamina “Billie” S. Klutinoty 96, of Butler, PA, beloved mother and yiayia, passed away peacefully at her home on January 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, PA 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 was the youngest (and smallest) of three sisters and 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 belonged to the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle, PA. She had an immense faith and trust in God, and 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 and 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.
Her Greek Orthodox Funeral services and burial with Rev. Fr. Michael Gavrilos officiating were held privately through the SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 NEW CASTLE RD. BUTLER, PA 16001 WWW.SPENCERDGEIBEL.COM
In lieu of flowers, please perform a random act of kindness to brighten someone’s day in Billie’s memory.