Hana Pyro

Hana Pyro, age 78, a longtime resident of Winchester, passed away on April 22, 2026. She was the beloved wife for 50 years of George Pyro until George’s death in 2020.

Hana was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia to Miloš and Milada Stadnik. Her father Miloš was an economist and mother Milada a teacher. Hana grew up under difficult conditions in Eastern Europe, but she still told tales of joy from her summers in Rakovník and of the culture and beauty of Prague. She went on to attend Charles University, where she studied Russian literature and language with a minor in art. In 1968, Hana, along with her husband-to-be Jiří (George), her parents, and her sister's family emigrated from Czechoslovakia to start a new life in the USA, landing in Cambridge, MA.

Stateside, Hana earned her MA in Slavic languages and literature from Harvard University, and later a Masters in Library Science from Simmons College. She was passionate in her 34 year-long career as Slavic librarian, building the South Slavic, Czech and Slovak collections at Harvard’s Widener Library.

A gifted artist, Hana's spare time included painting landscapes in watercolor, particularly during her beloved escapes to seaside Stonington, Maine. Her children remember her independent, adventurous spirit, which drew her for decades to the ocean beaches on Boston’s North Shore and across the rustic landscapes of outer Cape Cod, all of which are reflected in her paintings. She was a deeply spiritual person, finding divinity in music, in nature, and in her Catholic faith. All said, her family unwaveringly remained the most important thing in her life.

Hana is lovingly survived by her children: Jan T. Pyro and his wife Bethany of Shrewsbury; Anthony G. Pyro and his partner Katherine Walther of Exeter, NH; and Martin M. Pyro of Winchester. She was the devoted grandmother of Anya, Emmy and Veronica; the dear sister of Milada Fencl of Belmont and the cherished aunt of Robert Fencl, and Monique Achi.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial will follow in nearby Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester.