Pia Sviben

Pia Antoinette Biacchi Sviben, aka Mom, Gram, Big Mimi, Aunt Pia...the Matriarch and Rock of our family died Tuesday, February 27, 2024, just 5 days after her 90th Birthday, surrounded by her family. She was born the baby of six in Berwick, PA on February 22, 1934 to the late Angelo and Pauline (Cerbara) Baiocchi.

After graduating from Berwick High School in 1952, she hopped a bus for a job in Harrisburg where she later met Ted and married him in 1957. She worked at WTPA Channel 27, General State Authority, later the Department of General Services where she retired in 1996.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Andrew Sviben and her siblings Louis A. Biacchi, Elizabeth Jerome, Anthony Biacchi Sr., Joseph A. Biacchi, and Mary Biacchi.

Sadly, the day before Pia died, Anna Jean Sviben, more like a sister-in-law than a cousin, died after a long illness. Both of these amazing women shaped and raised Pia’s family after Ted’s death.

Pia is survived by sister-in-law Phyllis Biacchi (Louis), three daughters: Paula Sviben (Rob Montijo) of Steelton, Michele Wilson (Alan LaCava) of Gloucester, NJ, and Beth Anne with whom she resided, grandchildren: Teresa Anne Kirkpatrick (Benjamin), Emily Wilson (Mike Agrusa), Victoria Montijo, and Rebecca Montijo, great-grandchildren: Andrew Michael Sviben (Cierra Roberts), Liam Benjamin Kirkpatrick, Grace Kelly Pearce, Luka Robert Kirkpatrick and Baby Agrusa due in May. Her grands and great-grands were her world and she made sure they knew it.

The Biacchi side of Pia’s family was large and spread around Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She cherished the times spent with special nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Her trips to Berwick in August for the Feast of the Assumption was one her favorites and she loved being “up home” with family, eating at the “MA” (Maria Assunta), attending Mass at St. Joe’s and walking in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary procession. Pia was especially happy when she was preparing home cooked meals (spaghetti and meatballs and "Grammy Soup" being her family favorite) and hosting family at her home or when they joined her at the Prince of Peace Annual Picnic. She loved having lots of family around her.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 11:00 am in Prince of Peace - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, 815 South Second Street, Steelton, PA, with Rev. Steven J. Arena, Pastor, Celebrant. Burial at the conclusion of Mass will be in Resurrection Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Thursday from 9:00 am - 10:30 am in Wiedeman Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 357 S. Harrisburg Street, Oberlin.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Pia’s name to either Hospice of Central PA https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/hospice-of-central-pennsylvania/memorials or Prince of Peace Parish.