Starr Ann Gibbons

Born in Pittsburgh on December 11, 1949, Starr is survived by her beloved son, Corey Gibbons, sisters-in-law Cathie Bruce, Connie Gregory and Carol Knizek; brother-in-law Mick Moran, nieces Jennifer Pritts, Jennifer (Jeff) Tormeno, Julie (Brian) Whited, Judy Knizek; nephews Mark (Maureen) Moran, Jeff (Christina) Moran and Justin Knizek; great-nieces Hailey Pritts, Larissa Pritts, Kate Moran, Ella Moran, Lauren Moran, Noelle Whited and Haylie Tormeno; great-nephews Holden Pritts and Jackson Moran. She was preceded in death by parents Dorothy (Dempsey) and Charles L. Gregory II, brother Charles L. Gregory III, Corey’s father, Butch, and many other relatives and friends she held close over the years.

Starr spent nearly her entire life in Penn Hills, growing up on Azalea Drive and later raising Corey, her only son on Springwood Drive, both communities inside of themselves with lifelong connections that she deeply appreciated especially as time passed. She moved to Oakmont in 2012 where she resided for the remainder of her life, still able to enjoy flowers on the porch and getting some sunshine with visits to the apartment pool. She was a gentle and caring soul whose compassion for people, animals, and every living thing came naturally.

Starr grew up as a member of the former Laketon Heights Methodist Church in Penn Hills, graduated from Penn Hills Senior High School in 1967 and went on to become a Registered Nurse graduating from Presbyterian-University Hospital School of Nursing in 1970. Her profession as a nurse blessed her with two of the most endearing and lifelong friendships with fellow nurses Irene Hanna and Yvonne Walker, both of whom remained very close to her over the years and especially in her final days.

Starr loved being a nurse and being a caregiver, spending nearly 30 years caring for patients as Miss Guthrie taught her from her first days on the job; focused on patient dignity, professionalism and genuinely caring about the patient as a person. Up through the late 1980’s, she was a floor nurse on 5 West at the former Eye & Ear Hospital of Pittsburgh in Oakland later becoming part of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Same unit, different hospital affiliations, almost always working the 3-11pm shift. She medically retired in 2000 due to chronic health issues that she would courageously endure for the rest of her life.

Starr was proud to be a nurse, and she was exceptionally good at caring for others. As sometimes happens with nurses, however, she later proved to be a considerably less cooperative patient herself. A few years ago, while a patient at Montefiore, she had an incredibly compassionate and caring young man as her nurse. She relentlessly grilled him on every medication dosage and timing to which she later admitted “correct answer.” During a visit, as he walked out of the room, she looked at Corey and said “I don’t like him.” When asked “why?” she said “trust your mother, I know what I’m doing (she did) and his hair is too long. I was never allowed to have my hair touch my shoulder, I’m going to say something!”

Starr was an animal lover her entire life, invested in showing every creature compassion and care as if it were her own child. Her home was rarely without a dog or cat, and there was always room in her heart for one more. Over the years and likely not comprehensive as there was always something coming or going, there were Cindy Lou, Brandy, Tiger, Snoopy, Snowball, Morgan, Pauly, Mr. Sweety, and Chico, the neighbor’s cat who moved into the garage for a year or two after discovering that she would feed him, talk to him, and make sure he was safe.

Corey recounts two examples of Starr’s unlimited compassion for animals as a childhood memory and more recent:

Shopping at Monroeville Mall around Christmas-time in the mid-1980’s, she spotted a stray dog running across the parking lot while leaving. She stopped the car (in the middle of the road) and chased it through traffic certain to rescue it. When she finally got to the dog, he bit her. Refusing to leave it to “suffer”, she scooped it up, put it in the car, brought it home and cared for the scared creature until taking it to Animal Friends the next day.

A few years ago, Corey hit a deer with his truck and when Starr saw the cracked-up front end, she became very concerned and asked if he was ok and what happened. When told what had occurred, she started crying about the “poor deer” which turned to anger, blaming him for “running down a harmless animal”.

To those who knew Starr, most everyone would say she loved being a nurse and loved all living creatures whether it was dog, cat or even her flowers she’d plant religiously every year. However, what truly mattered to her more than anything and her actions speak for themselves in that she loved being a mother and loved being Corey’s mom. She gave it everything she had, raising him with a love that was sincere, protective, and unwavering. She always cared, usually didn’t judge, and could be counted on to be there—sometimes even to a fault. She simply loved her son, and she did the very best she could to give him a good life and make sure he knew he was loved. And he does beyond any measure of a doubt.

For more than 27 years, Starr endured declining health and chronic, debilitating pain that no person—least of all one with such a gentle heart—should have been asked to bear. Those who love her will hopefully find comfort in believing that she is finally free from pain and at peace in the heaven in which she placed her faith, greeted by those who went before her and every pet wagging their tail in anticipation of her arrival.

Corey extends his heartfelt gratitude to everyone at The Willows at Presbyterian SeniorCare in Oakmont who cared for her these last two years and to the Bridges Hospice team who stepped in these last few months. Everyone’s kindness, patience, and compassion brought Starr comfort, dignity, and companionship during her final days, much like she tried to show her patients so many years ago.

At Starr’s request, there will be no formal service and her remains will be interred at Mt. Hope Cemetery alongside her beloved mother and father privately.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Starr are encouraged to donate to Animal Friends of Pittsburgh, plant something beautiful in her memory, or simply show kindness to an animal in need, something that defined who Starr was and did instinctively throughout her life.

Rest in peace and finally free from pain Mom, I love you.