Harriet Pitlik
July 25, 1927 ~ March 22, 2023
Harriet Pitlik, 95, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Mount Vernon, died on March 22, 2023, at peace. Private Family Graveside Services will be held at a later date. The family is being cared for by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon.
Harriet is survived by her children, Pamela (Bob) Byersdorfer of Fairbank, Iowa, Greg (Joyce) Pitlik of Morton, Illinois, and Andrea (Wayne Courtney) Covington of Kensington, Maryland; grandchildren, Adam (Amanda) Byersdorfer, Benjamin Byersdorfer, Caleb (Rosanna) Byersdorfer, Meredith (Michael) Torres, Tyler Pitlik, Larry (Tracy) Covington, and Blake (Sarah) Covington; great-grandchildren, Evan, Braden, Jacob, Ilse, Anna Lena, Edgar, Frederick, Quintin, Olivia, Michael, Mitchell, Faith, Matthew, Merrill, Hope, Kate, Ruby, and Killian; brother John (Audrey) Ruby of Laguna Niguel, California; and many nieces and nephews.
Harriet Ann Ruby was born July 25, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Leo and Mary (Roche) Ruby. On January 10, 1948, she married Merrill Pitlik, her life's love. They had three children and enjoyed 66 years of marriage before his passing on May 17, 2015. Harriet graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids before pursuing her Bachelors from Cornell College, and working towards her masters at University of Iowa.
She taught third grade at Mount Vernon School District over 14 years before her retirement in 1982. In her spare time, Harriet enjoyed gardening, card club, and wintering in Arizona. Her best memories were her time spent with her grandchildren.
Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill; parents, Leo and Mary Ruby; siblings and spouses, Pat (Marv) Morse, and Dick (Shirley) Ruby; and great-grandchild, Maximilian.
Memorials may be directed to St. John's Catholic Church, Mount Vernon, or Hospice of Mercy.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
Our families go back so many years . . . To try to isolate one particular memory would be impossible. My special connection to Harriet and Merrill was through my baptism. I am just plain sad to learn of her passing.
Jane Suchomel Carlson
So sorry to hear you recently lost your mother.
I didn’t have her as a teacher, but I remember her when Pam & I had a couple ‘play-dates’. I have heard many good things about your mom from old students of hers.
Isn’t it such a blessing to have had her with you for 96 years!
Jane Baker Hardin
So sorry for your loss. Hold tight to the memories.
I never met Harriet but know of her through her daughter Andi Covington to have been a wonderful mother, wife grandmother and great grandmother who is missed and loved by all who knew her. May you all hold her memories in your hearts .
Vera DiMaio
Harriet was a wonderful woman and always saw the good in everyone. She was a dear, lifelong friend to my mom and I am proud to have known her.
Anne Suchomel Miller
Mrs. Pitlik was my third grade teacher at Washington Elementary. She retired the year that I was in her classroom. I loved Mrs. Pitlik dearly and she was my favorite teacher at WE. When I started working at WE in 2021, The Sun asked me to name a teacher that inspired me and I didn’t even have to think about it. I named Mrs. Pitlik and was so glad to see her a couple of times at Keystone while visiting my grandmother, Mary Wallace. Mrs. Pitlik introduced me to Beverly Cleary books and I read every Ramona book I could get my hands on that year!