Holiday wreath-making is a 'family affair' for Upper Burrell man

The lighted wreaths along the driveway leading to the VFW along Wildlife Lodge in Lower Burrell and in front of the Vietnam War memorial are hard to miss.

Those are no ordinary holiday decorations.

“Those wreaths with the LED lights — people rave every time they drive into the place,” said Lee Johnson, Lower VFW Post 92 commader. “ ‘Who does that?’ people always ask,” he said.

The wreaths were created by David Pietryka of Upper Burrell, a steelworker at ATI in Harrison. He picked up his wreath-making skills more than 45 years ago when he helped his father — Stanley Pietryka, a World War II veteran — make fresh wreaths for the graves of his army buddies.

David Pietryka never stopped. He kept adding lights and ornaments with just a dash of glitter to the cuttings from freshly harvested fir trees. The beauty and holiday spirit of the Christmas decorations are apparently contagious, with more people wanting them and more helping to make them.

Wreath-making is healthier than making Christmas cookies and just as much of a tradition for the Pietryka family.

“It’s just fun,” Pietryka said. “I always liked gifts that were made by hand.”

After decades of wreath-making, Pietryka had a tall order to fill in the several weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. He, along with a gaggle of family members and friends, will have made close to 150 wreaths before Christmas, all of which Pietryka gives away for free.

“This is his gift to the community and friends and family,” said Pietryka’s sister, Linda Hill, 70, of Upper Burrell.

“It’s become a family affair,” said Hill of the wreath-making parties. People bring different pieces such as hand-made bows, festive ornaments attached to picks, lights and whatever looks good pinned to a wreath.

Although the tradition was started by their father, Pietryka took it over and it just blossomed, Hill said.

These are serious pieces of holiday decoration, with the largest at 42-inches in diameter. Some are too big to mount on a door. It requires several people to mount on someone’s front yard.

Pietryka does the heavy lifting, literally, procuring three or more Fraser fir and concolor trees from various vendors where the price is right. His supply needs are great. He uses entire trees to harvest an endless supply of 8-inch cuttings to make the wreaths.

Wreath-making had its humble beginning in family basements and sheds. Now, Pietryka gives up his two-door garage to fill with piles of tree branches the size of small cars. His garage smells like Christmas.

Modern technology has been helpful. Seven years ago, Pietryka discovered and bought a crimper operated by a foot pedal that crimps the metal prongs of the wreath frames, almost effortlessly fastening the bundles of fresh greens.

Pietryka has learned much about his craft over the years. The long, soft-needled concolor with its bushy branches are best for the larger wreathes. Although it’s a prickly ordeal, blue spruce provides longevity for cemetery wreaths. Traditional fir wreaths have been munched away by browsing deer.

As Pietryka comes to the end of wreath-making season, he said, “My family and friends are fantastic. We had some weekends where 20 to 30 people were here. Although, I won’t mind getting my garage back when this is over.”