Peter J Breiding

Pete passed away on March 7, 2025, after a battle with pneumonia and cancer. As the 6th child of a family of 12, Pete's life began as the first baby to be born at the bright, yellow house on North Hill. His childhood days were bookended by waking up to Christ the King church bells and heading home to the street lights and the in between of playing with his cousin, Mike, and neighborhood buddies no holds barred. He and his little brothers used to perform ridiculous skits about the "big white truck in the sky" –making the little kids crack up. As he got older, he worked with Grandpa Breiding in his fields and then with his dad, Dick, and his brothers, Tim, Bill, Tom and Joe at Breiding Lawn Service. His sisters, Kathy, Winnie, Lizzie, Chris, Bridget, Mary and Annie will tell you he was the sweetest of the brothers and the most red headed, with all that implies.

He was generous to a fault – literally giving the coat off his back, his last dollar to the guy worse off than him. He took to wandering in his 20s – from playing cowboy down in Texas and exploring Alaska. The little kids can still remember him walking down Creighton Avenue in a cowboy hat with a cattle skull to show them– after hitch hiking home from Texas; in those moments he became a legend.

He took a genuine interest and always wanted the latest updates about his nieces and nephews – many of which had a special, protective place in their hearts for Uncle Pete. Pete joined a family team of runners for the Akron Marathon for several years and started a lawn mowing business with his brother-in-lawn Doug. Pete's life was marked by love and kindness, but it was not easy or simple. Pete's decades long battle with mental illness was punctuated by struggles and heart break and his family and those closest to him are so relieved that he is finally at peace, hanging out in heaven with his mom and dad and maybe working with Grandpa Breiding, free of the conflicts and restraints of mental illness. They picture him in a huge house with a ton of roommates, a pocket full of Reeses, unlimited refills of Diet Coke and unrestricted cigarettes – knowing he's probably given most of them away already.

His Catholic faith and belief in God never wavered and his place in heaven had has always been guaranteed. "Blessed are the pure in spirit, for they shall see God." Although fiercely and stubbornly independent, Pete was lovingly guided through his life by his brother, Bill. His sister, Mary, looked out for him and they shared a special relationship.

And his last years were marked by the loving attention of his brothers-in-law, Dave, Doug and Fred. The rest of his family loved him so much and he will be missed more than he would understand.

Memorials can be made to the Blessed Trinity food bank or simply giving to someone in need – that person on the street is someone's brother or sister and they are loved – do not look past them, know they have a story, complicated and human just like yours.

Family will receive family and friends at 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Blessed Trinity Church, 300 E. Tallmadge Ave. Akron.

Mass will follow visitation at 11:00 a.m. at the Blessed Trinity Church with Fr. Rev. Joseph Warner officiating.

Blessed Trinity Parish Food Panty
300 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron OH 44310