Pauline Hunter Cunningham, born Ethel Louise Hunter, of Indiana, formerly of Murrysville, PA, passed away at Maple Valley Personal Care Home on June 26, 2022 after battling the disease of dementia. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Craig Eugene Cunningham of Indiana, PA, formerly of Saltsburg, PA.
Born on February 6, 1937 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the late Pauline Isabelle Kennell and Frank Milton Hunter, she was raised in the town of Verona, and was preceded in death by two half-brothers, Tommy and Jackie Cowan. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas A. Hunter, was well known in the Oakmont community as the president of the First National Bank of Oakmont, Postmaster, and co-owner of Hunter Brothers Grocery.
Polly graduated from Verona High School, and received her degree in education from Slippery Rock University.
She was a third-grade teacher in the Penn Hills School District, and then a dedicated mother and homemaker until her children came of age. Then she worked for many years as a teacher at the Rainbow Connection daycare in Murrysville, PA. Polly built a life with her beloved husband Craig and raised their three children in Penn Hills, PA. In 1985 they finished building their dream home together from a log home kit on several acres in Murrysville, PA and relocated. They enjoyed more than 30 years in that home, tending to plants, collecting antique glassware, and enjoying time with friends, family, and grandchildren. Mostly, they enjoyed their time tending to each other. Their last several years were lived in Indiana, PA, close to their daughter, Carol, and her two children, Connor and Fiona McQuaide.
Polly enjoyed sewing and crafting of all types and was always working on some type of project. She also enjoyed reading, walking, doing genealogy research on her family, and collecting antique furniture and glassware. She loved dolls all her life, and was an avid Barbie collector. She is survived by three children: Jill Cunningham Loftis, Craig Hunter Cunningham and his wife Deborah Nacua Cunningham, and Carol Cunningham McQuaide; grandchildren Alexandra, Hunter and Bryant Loftis; Luke and Joshua Abarra; Connor and Fiona McQuaide; and a great[1]granddaughter, Mia Holton.
The family offers deep appreciation to the VNA Family Hospice team and gratitude to the caring and hard-working staff of Maple Valley, especially Sharlene, for taking wonderful care of both Polly and Craig.
The family will hold a private memorial celebration and, in lieu of flowers, suggests donations to the Oakmont Historical Society, 628 Allegheny River Blvd, Oakmont, PA 15139, or the Murrysville Meals On Wheels, 3202 North Hills Road, Murrysville, PA 15668.
Arrangements through Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory of Indiana, 965 Philadelphia St. Online condolences may be made at rbfh.net.
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