The Gibsonia community is grieving the sudden loss of Bryce Thomas Borella, 18, who passed away on Friday, June 26, 2026.
A recent graduate of Pine Richland High School and the A.W. Beattie Career Center’s HVAC Program, Bryce had his whole future ahead of him — a future that was cut far too short, leaving family, friends, and teammates devastated.
Born on July 30, 2007, to Keith and JulieAnn Borella, Bryce grew up as someone who made every space brighter simply by walking into it.
His brother Colin, his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a wide circle of people who were lucky enough to know him are now left to carry memories of a young man whose warmth and humor were impossible to forget.
Those who spent time with Bryce will tell you the same thing — he had a gift. Not everyone can walk into a room and immediately make people feel at ease, but Bryce could do it without even trying.
His quick wit kept people laughing, and his genuine care for others made sure they always left a conversation feeling better than when it started. That rare combination of humor and heart is what made him so unforgettable to everyone in his orbit.
From the Rink to the Field, He Brought His Whole Heart
Sports were a central thread running through Bryce’s life. He played ice hockey, in-line hockey, baseball, and football — not just as activities, but as a way of building bonds and pushing himself.
He was a fierce competitor who understood what it meant to be a teammate, to show up, and to give everything he had. The friendships he built on the field and on the rink were deep ones, forged through shared effort and a love of the game.
Off the field, Bryce’s happiest moments were often the simplest ones — days at the beach with family, afternoons on the golf course, and the kind of easy, unhurried time together that tends to stick with you long after it’s over.
He also had a well-known talent for cornhole, a detail that everyone who knew him seems to smile about when they mention it.
Bryce had recently completed his HVAC training at A.W. Beattie Career Center alongside his high school diploma, a combination that spoke to both his work ethic and his practical ambition. He was stepping into adulthood with skills, drive, and a personality that would have taken him far.
The Borella family will receive visitors on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 3–8 PM at English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, PA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Parish – St. Irenaeus Church, 387 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, with interment to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. All are asked to meet at the church.
Instead of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice in Bryce’s name.
