Book recalls the life of former OLOV priest

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

The Rev. David Kriss died more than 16 years ago, but his brother and sister are making sure his memory will live on for years to come.

Kriss, pastor of the former Our Lady of the Valley church in Donora for seven years before his death in 2004, is the subject of the book “David’s Echo — Uplifting the Human Spirit,” co-written by his brother, the Rev. Aaron Kriss, and his sister, Elly Walkowiak.

The book was published in December, and features many of David’s thoughts on life, love, human connection and personal happiness.

David was 51 when he died suddenly from a massive heart attack in October 2004, three days after celebrating 25 years of priesthood.

“It was a shock,” Aaron, currently a pastor at Guardian Angels Parish in Natrona Heights, recalled of his brother’s death. “He was thin and he never complained of any issues with his heart.”

Aaron said he and his family grew up on Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, where he and David began their calling to serve the church.

“David was 11 years older than me, and when Dave was growing up he was always an altar server and he always helped at church festivals and helped with readings at Mass,” Aaron said. “We loved the music and the readings of the Catholic Mass. I felt that this might be the life for which I’m called.”

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