The Fayette City Volunteer Fire Company and the greater Fayette County community are mourning the loss of Second Lieutenant Ashley Marie Eley, who passed away peacefully on Friday, October 10, 2025, surrounded by her family at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was just 25 years old.
Born on April 20, 2000, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Ashley was the beloved daughter of James M. Eley and Sherri Piergrossi Eley. A proud 2018 graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School, she later attended LBI in Uniontown, where she earned her certification as a phlebotomist. Most recently, she worked with Preferred Primary Care Physicians, Inc. in Uniontown, where she was admired for her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to patient care.
Ashley’s service to her community extended far beyond her professional career. A dedicated firefighter and proud member of the Fayette City Volunteer Fire Company, she held the rank of Second Lieutenant and was also an active member of the Fayette County Firefighters Association, the Western Pennsylvania Firefighters Association, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs Association. Her commitment to public service and her courage in the line of duty made her a respected and valued member of the local firefighting community.
Outside of her work and service, Ashley was known for her warm personality and adventurous spirit. She enjoyed spending time at the casino, hunting, and being outdoors. Those close to her remember her as someone who lived life fully and brought joy to everyone around her.
Ashley is survived by her loving parents, James M. and Sherri Piergrossi Eley; her grandfather, James Piergrossi of Fayette City; her aunts and uncles — Janet (Michael) Maher of Herbeson, DE, Debbie (Kelly) Parshall of Belle Vernon, and James (Tori) Piergrossi of Kingsville, MD; her cousins Katherine O. Maher of Atlanta and Bailey K. Parshall and fiancé Jake Murawski of Pittsburgh; her boyfriend Dylan Ditmore of Hopwood; and her two beloved dogs, Buster and Gunner. She is also survived by numerous extended family members, friends, and fellow firefighters who will forever cherish her memory.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, E. James Eley Jr. and Linda Lynch Eley, and her maternal grandmother, Sharon Jackson Piergrossi.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Eley/McCrory Funeral Home, Inc. on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Tuesday, October 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Firefighters Memorial Service will take place Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with Rev. Wayne Boring officiating. Interment will follow at Belle Vernon Cemetery.