Krissie Oja

Kristen Elizabeth Oja, 31, died unexpectedly and peacefully in her sleep at her Syracuse home early on Thursday morning, July 29.

Born six minutes before her twin sister, Katie, on April 26, 1990, at Crouse Hospital in
Syracuse, Krissie was the daughter of David E. and Linda P. Oja. She was a 2008 graduate of Nottingham High School and a 2012 graduate of Syracuse University.

Krissie's professional career in hospitality management included her work as Catering Manager with Sodexo at Menorah Park and, more recently, as Business Office Manager at Peppino's Restaurant and Catering Company. As a young volunteer, she donated hundreds of hours to Syracuse Chargers Track Club events, and she was an active, five-year member of the Board of Directors of the Jonathan Cancer Fund at the time of her death.

Anyone who knew Krissie would agree that she was truly a light in this world. One could frequently find her in the middle of the dance floor wearing cheetah print and hot pink and encouraging everyone to join her when "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" played. She loved life and her many wonderful friends, but she loved nothing more than her adorable little sidekick.

Krissie is survived by and will be terribly missed by her young son, Nicholas Jack Wood; her loving companion, Nick Wood; Nick's family; her mom and dad; her older brother, Matthew D. Oja (Kate); her twin sister, Katie Oja; and her nephew and niece, Theodore and Ingrid Oja, all of whom reside in the Syracuse area.

Krissie is also survived by and will be missed by a large extended family outside the Syracuse area: her paternal grandmother, Ruth Oja, of Red Hook, NY; her aunts, Lois Thomas (Paul) of Red Hook, NY; Anne Oja (Alan Van Ness) of Red Hook, NY; Caroline Gergel (Don) of Fairfax Station, VA; Marya Oja of New York City; and Lorraine Voegler (George), of Tivoli, NY; her uncles, Matthew F. Oja (Galina) of Half Moon Bay, CA, and Robert Palumbo, of Albany, NY; and several dozen cousins, great aunts, and great uncles.

Krissie was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Albert and Ann Palumbo; paternal grandfather, Frank E. Oja; and uncle, John Oja.

Calling hours will be held at Burns Garfield Funeral Home, 3175 E. Genesee Street in Syracuse, on Friday, August 13, between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at All Saints Church, 1340 Lancaster Avenue in Syracuse on Saturday, August 14, at 10:00 a.m. The family requests that guests in attendance at both calling hours and the funeral Mass wear masks or face covering, thank you for your understanding.

Burial will be private, in the Bard College Cemetery in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.

Memorial donations may be made to the "Nicholas J. Wood 529 Education Savings Program Account," c/o David and Linda Oja, 213 Scott Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13224.