Devoted Arnold Furniture employee will be hard to replace

Kevin F. Remaley lived for his daughter Saydi.

A longtime employee of Arnold Furniture in Arnold, the Lower Burrell man raised her on his own and even started a disc jockey business for her, his mom said.

“Everything he did, he did for her,” his mother, Tammy Remaley Tallerico, said. “They were friends. They did everything together.”

The devoted, single father died suddenly May 14 at the age of 42.

A former Arnold Furniture co-worker said Remaley was more than just an employee. He was family.

“He started working with us when he was only 22 years old. Throughout all that, he’s become part of our family,” Manager Lori Brasiola said.

Remaley made deliveries and worked in sales at Arnold Furniture.

Brasiola said Remaley was a loyal employee who never called off sick. He was patient and kind with customers and wanted to make sure they were pleased by the end of a delivery.

“We got a lot of phone calls complimenting our drivers on our deliveries, and I’m sure Kevin was a big part of that,” she said. “He really was just a genuinely good guy and a very good employee. He would do whatever he had to do to make our customers happy.

“He’s going to be hard to replace.”

Tallerico said her son loved working at the store. She cried when she saw an ad the company placed in the Tribune-Review in his memory Monday.

“It goes to show that you can be more than just an employee. Not too many people do that. Not too many employers think of their employees that way,” she said. “It goes to show you that there’s people out there that really care.”

Remaley owned Northern Lights Production Co., a DJ business, with his 17-year-old daughter. It has been around for at least 10 years.

Tallerico said her son did charity events through the DJ business. He helped other DJs get their start and performed at weddings, birthday parties and schools.

“He was always into music when he was growing up,” Tallerico said. “He loved it.”

Saydi Remaley will continue the DJ business, Tallerico said.

“She’s part-owner. His two security guards are still in it, and they’re going to get one of his DJs that works with him to be involved in it, too,” she said.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Cardaro Funeral Home in New Kensington. A funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. in the funeral home, immediately following the visitation. A private burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the funeral home.