Krsta Stefanovski

Devoted Wife, Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother

Krsta Stefanovski, age 95, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2026. The eldest daughter of Stefo and Sofia Petrovski, Krsta was born on March 28, 1931, in the village of Dragos, in the country of Macedonia. Always a loving and caring individual, Krsta helped raise her younger siblings when her father left to find work in France. At the young age of 12, she took up an apprenticeship in the City of Bitola where she learned how to sew, a skill that ultimately turned into a lifelong career as a seamstress.

Krsta met and married her husband, Pavle Stefanovski, in 1951. After living and working in the City of Kicevo for 15 years, they decided to leave their homeland. Packing everything they could carry into a couple of steamer trunks, they boarded the Queen Mary with their three young children and sailed to America to escape the confines of communism and pursue the American Dream.

With little money and unable to speak English, they arrived in New York on Pier 90 on May 3, 1966. From there, they boarded a train to Erie, where they would make their home, quickly learning to assimilate into the American way of life.

Despite a lack of formal education, Krsta was extremely bright and intuitive, just as much as she was compassionate, kind, and forgiving. Over the years, Krsta found work as a seamstress for several bridal salons, including Vagnarelli Studio and Margel’s Bridal Salon. She ultimately retired from JCPenny’s. In addition to being an incredibly talented seamstress, Krsta loved to knit and crochet beautiful afghans and doilies, especially for her family members. She also enjoyed baking homemade breads, nut rolls, and ethnic pastries. Affectionately known as “Baba Kita,” she relished family celebrations and never missed birthday dinners, weddings, showers, and graduations. She enjoyed working alongside her husband, Pavle, in his garden, where they grew a variety of vegetables, with peppers seemingly the most important. There was nothing like the fresh taste of grilled peppers with olive oil and the right amount of garlic and spices. Add to that a glass of homemade wine, feta cheese, and olives, and the dinner table was ready for all who came to their door.

In addition to her parents, Krsta was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Pavle, in 2015; brothers, Vasko Petrovski and Vangel Petrovski and a sister, Milica Ambromovitc. She is survived by daughters, Donna Stojanovski (Dimitrije) of Syracuse, New York, and Vera Dimitrovski (Ivan) of Erie, and a son, Nick Stefanovski, M.D. (Laura), also of Erie, and a sister-in-law, Roza Petrovski, of Slovenia. In addition, she leaves behind loving grandchildren: Peter Stojanovski (Sonya), Stefo Stojanovski (Emilia), and Kiro Dimitrovski (Krissy), all of Syracuse; Diana Stokes (Kenon) of Pittsburgh; Michael Dimitrovski, Sophia, Katharyn, and Olivia Stefanovski, all of Erie; and Alexander Stefanovski of Manhattan, New York; great-grandchildren: Nadia and Ava Stojanovski, Victoria and Stefo Stojanovski, Kiro, Jr., Kenzie and Kyler Dimitrovski, and Kameron Stokes, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call at Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Road, on Sunday, July 26th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., and a funeral service at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27th. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UPMC Hamot Aid Society.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to the staff at LECOM Saint Mary’s Home of Erie for the wonderful care they gave Krsta during her stay.