Theodore James Pietryka Jr., 45, of South Abington Township, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 30, 2017, at Commonwealth Health Hospital surrounded by the love of his family and friends.

He was the beloved husband of Jennifer Noakes Pietryka.

Born in Scranton and raised in Newton Township, Ted was the son of Theodore J. Pietryka Sr. and Audrey L. (Gabriel) Pietryka, of West Wyoming. 

He was a 1990 graduate of Abington Heights High School and a 1997 Temple University graduate having received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. 

After graduation, Ted worked in the surrounding Philadelphia area at Motorola and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as a Security Manager. After marrying Jen in 2000, the two moved back to their hometown of Clarks Summit to be close to their families. Ted most recently worked as a Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for Eli Lilly and InVentiv Health.

His greatest joy was undoubtedly his family. Ted treasured his time with Jen and their three boys, Gabe, Garrett, and Teddy. He enjoyed coaching their baseball teams and cheering from the sidelines at soccer and football games. He shared his love of the great outdoors, hunting and riding quads with his sons. He loved skiing each weekend and traveling to the beach and other destinations with his family.

Ted’s positive outlook and perseverance overshadowed his fight with cancer. Refusing to be defined by cancer, he continued to be active in his family’s lives. Despite several surgeries and treatments, Ted continued to strike a balance between work and family and was awarded the top 10% sales performance award for the North Atlantic Area Neuroscience Division.

In addition to his wife, sons, and parents, Ted is survived by his sister, Jennifer Pietryka, Tacoma, Washington; brother, Aaron Pietryka, Forty Fort; mother-in-law, Mary Noakes, Clarks Summit; sister-in-law, Melissa DeAngelo and husband, Paul, Harrisburg; nieces, Grace and Holly DeAngelo, Harrisburg; and his many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, William S. and Ruth (Beecham) Gabriel; paternal grandparents, Matthew and Anna (Butch) Pietryka; and father-in-law, Carl Noakes.

Over the past six years, Ted and his family were supported by medical professionals, family, and friends, through exceptional medical care and simple acts of kindness. Ted’s family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Commonwealth Health Hospital, and the staff at Traditional Home Health, Dunmore and Compassionate Care Hospice, Taylor.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend Ted’s Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Monday, December 04, 2017, at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Snows Parish, 301 South State Street, Clarks Summit. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the family’s beloved friend, the Reverend Richard J. Cirba.

Those who will be attending the Funeral Mass on Monday are kindly asked to assemble directly at the church.

Private Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Clarks Green Cemetery.

Family and Friends are invited to call on Sunday, December 03, 2017, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 South State Street, Clarks Summit.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ted’s brother, Aaron, owner of the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, and are being held from the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, Clarks Summit.

For additional information or to send the Pietryka Family an online message of support and comfort, you may visit either www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com or www.lawrenceeyoungfuneralhome.com.

The family has kindly requested that flowers be omitted.  Because of Ted’s commitment to his children’s education, memorial contributions may be made to the Pietryka Children Scholarship Fund, c/o 507 Brian Drive, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.