Ronalda Buff Demmy's Obituary
Ronalda Jean Theresa Buff Demmy was born May 12, 1951 in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the first of three daughters born to Ron & Jean Buff. Upon graduation from St. Anselm’s School in Swissvale, she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, IUP (Punxsutawney campus) where she reigned over the 1970 Groundhog Day Festivities as ROTC Queen. After completing an internship at Harrisburg General Hospital she graduated from IUP in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology. While attending IUP, she met the love of her life, Jim Demmy, a Vietnam veteran. The two were married September 1, 1973. They welcomed their son Jeff in the following year. After several cold winters in Somerset, PA the Demmys moved to St.Petersburg, FL in 1984. Ronalda soon discovered the beach becoming an avid sea shell collector and lover of dolphins. She also discovered a love for the beaches at Sanibel & Captiva Island. She worked at Northside Hospital (26 yrs) and All Children’s Hospital (8 yrs) where she established deep friendships over the years. While in FL she expanded her family to include 7 shelties, her favorite breed of dog: Kasey, Kassee, Kylie, Flirt, Molly, Kody, Kory. In recent years the Demmys discovered a love for traveling and visited Hawaii twice, the Grand Canyon and annual trips to Sanibel & Captiva Island. Ronalda will be lovingly remembered by family and friends including her husband Jim; son Jeff and partner Maggie Partridge, sister Lynne and her husband George Fitzgerald, sister Dorre and her husband Rick Bartley; nephew Tom Palmer and his partner Matt Stevenson, nephew Ricky Bartley and his wife Rebecca, nephew Evan Bartley, and great nephew Timothy Joseph-TJ Bartley.
What’s your fondest memory of Ronalda?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ronalda?
Share a story where Ronalda's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ronalda you’ll never forget.
How did Ronalda make you smile?