Arelia Y. Gannon

Arelia Yvonne Gannon (Helen) passed away peacefully on January 31, 2024. She was born in Akron, Ohio on May 28, 1927. She graduated from Central High School, raised a family, and then retired from the accounting department of Firestone after 17 years.

Arelia was preceded in death by her parents, Rayder and Gladys Crawford; husband, Manual Gannon; daughter, Deborah Pilo; brother, Don (Marth) Crawford; and sisters, Betty Adey and Ruth Adey. She is survived by son, Michael (Tracy) Pilo; daughters, Sharen (Tim) Meyer, Becky Bradley, and Carol (Brendan) Bannister; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Arelia excelled in athletics, she played high school basketball for four years, volleyball in her forties and fifties, began snow skiing in her sixties, and golfed and line danced into her eighties. Challenging herself to learn new skills throughout life, she expressed her creative side through sewing late into the night, hat making, knitting, and macramé. While raising her five children, she enjoyed boating, camping, backyard badminton, and ping pong. In retirement she relished traveling, including a six weeks long road trip, hearing stories of her grandchildren’s world adventures, and volunteering at the Haven of Rest. As an athlete, she found great joy in watching the Cavs (crying when LeBron helped them bring the NBA Championship home), the Ducks, and designing notebooks of scoresheets for the Guardians.

In saying goodbye, her children wish to thank her for her love and dedication, and their spirited and spiritual upbringing with a house full of neighborhood kids, plants, animals, and Friday night popcorn.

Calling hours will be held at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron, OH 44312, on Tuesday, February 6, from 2-3 p.m. with a service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Akron Food Bank or Haven of Rest.