Alexandra “Alex” Pellegrino

Alexandra “Alex” Anali Pellegrino, age 18, died unexpectedly at her home in Mt. Lebanon on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Alex was born on March 25, 2006 in Guatemala to her beautiful birth mother, Arita Antonia Lopez, and traveled to America to become a part of our family in November of that same year. Learning of her birth and our long-awaited travel to pick her up and bring her to her new “home,” will always be one of our most treasured and joyous memories.

Alex is survived by her parents, Paula and Andy Pellegrino; her brothers, Sam and Charlie; her maternal grandmother, Norma “Biggie” Hoag; her paternal grandparents, Joe and Suzanne “Gram and Papa” Pellegrino; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and “Framily” (friends who are family), who all held a special place in her heart. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Terry “Old Papa” Hoag.

Alex graduated from City of Bridges High School in Highland Park in June 2024. She was eagerly anticipating her studies at Savanah College of Art and Design in the Fall where she planned to focus on Music Production and Sound Design.

Alex loved her work and the “work family” that she developed during her two years at Providence Point. Her relationships with the residents at Providence Point were intensely fulfilling for her. She more recently took a job at Sheetz and enjoyed the new challenges and getting to know her new coworkers.

From the moment Alex came to our family, her fun loving soul, generous heart, curiosity, and caregiving spirit were true gifts to us. Her creativity, musical and artistic talents, intelligence, wild adventurous spirit, and brilliant sense of humor were her gifts to the world. You could not help but laugh when you were with Alex.

While she was “land clumsy” (she walked like a penguin and tripped A LOT), Alex sailed through the water like a fish and her fingers would glide across piano keys and guitar strings with sophistication, grace and ease. Her music transported her to a place of comfort and contentment.

Her favorite things in the world were to be super goofy and laugh with anyone and everyone, entertain people, create and play music, “hang with” and love her pups, all things Spiderman, her eyeglasses, driving her poor car (that had truly taken a beating), Dunkin, her big brothers, her birthday parties, Mom Jeans, thrifting, family game nights and dinners, impulsively coloring or cutting her hair, her Mom’s banana chocolate chip bread, driving with her Mama down to school, hoodies on a hot day, feeling independent by taking the bus all around Pittsburgh, Springer’s ice cream in Stone Harbor, Graeter's black raspberry chip ice cream, trips to Devil’s Lake, jigsaw puzzles (she was a master), debating over best music eras with her dad, feeling included and accepted, candy, pleasing and caring for people, calling things and people “Wink” (not sure why, but surely her friends know), and playing the piano with Biggie.

It is her family’s greatest wish that Alex be remembered for all of her fun loving and joyful times here on this earth, over her times of challenge and suffering and the pain we feel because of her premature departure. There is no doubt that Alex was a vibrant force throughout her 18 years and we wish to celebrate that above everything else. Any special photos or memories to share with the family would be so greatly appreciated and can be uploaded in the google link, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iT7U8wYWlxV4XedGxxzrk2wxrpZNg2F_

Alex will be honored at a private ceremony for immediate family. The family will also host a Celebration of Life and Visitation at 952 Academy Place in Mt. Lebanon on Sunday, July 14 from 5:30-7:30 pm. It will be hot so please dress in summer informal clothes. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Township. 

In lieu of flowers kindly direct donations to Outreach Teen, https://outreachteen.crm.salsalabs.org/webDonation/, City of Bridges High School, https://www.cityofbridgeshighschool.org/support-us, or Children Incorporated Guatemalan Relief Fund, https://childrenincorporated.org/guatemala-assistance/.

www.slaterfuneral.com