Dr. Jeanne Krochalis of Valencia, formerly of Pittsburgh, died peacefully Nov. 23 at Passavant Hospital's Hospice Care after a brief illness and was surrounded by loving family and friends in her last days.

Jeannie lived a long and endlessly inquisitive life.

Born in Enterprise, Ala., on March 4, 1944, she grew up in Enfield, Conn. From an early age she wanted to study medieval history and literature, beginning at Mount Holyoke College, then at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, then at Harvard University (Ph.D) and later at Poitier in France. She taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Bucknell University and later at Penn State University.

There she met her husband, medieval scholar Dr. Robert Frank. Together they edited the Chaucer Review and extensively researched areas of mutual interest, notably the medieval pilgrimage route of St. James Compostela in Spain.

Jeannie made many close friends in several countries as she traveled with her work. She was a warm and gentle scholar, much loved and sorely missed by her brother, Bill Krochalis; her sisters, Suzanne Brown and Andrea Krochalis; in-laws; nephews; nieces; all her extended family; and by many warm friends.

KROCHALIS — Friends of Dr. Jeanne Krochalis, who died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, are invited to a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Dec. 9 at St Kilian's Roman Catholic Church, 7076 Franklin Road, Cranberry Township. The Rev. Charles Bober, pastor, officiating. A family will host a reception luncheon after the Mass.The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the Medieval Academy of America, either online, www.medievalacademy.org/donations, or in care of Lisa Fagin Davis at 17 Dunster St., Suite 202, Cambridge, MA 02138.All arrangements are through the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home in Mars.Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.