Erin Jessica Sirianni

Erin Jessica (McKernan) Sirianni was born in Emporia, Kansas on March 19, 1979, to Ed and Mona McKernan. She was immediately loved and doted on and for years spoiled rotten by her older sisters, Jamie (McKernan) Pollard and Kelly (McKernan) Roberts, much to the frustration of the adults in their lives. If you knew Erin, you might have known her by one of her many nicknames: Erin, EJ, Ernie, Jess, Mack, and most recently, Coach S. Growing up, Erin was regularly outside climbing trees and riding bikes. But most often, she was shooting a basketball. She spent hours in gyms and on the driveway shooting baskets. So much time, that for every Christmas from the age of seven on, she received a new basketball. She competed in and won dozens of free-throw contests around Kansas, later playing basketball at Neosho County Community College and then at Emporia State University. Her connections at ESU led her to an assistant coaching role for the women’s basketball team at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, KS. It was here, in 2001, that she met her husband, Jay Sirianni, an assistant baseball coach. The two clicked immediately over their shared love of sports, the outdoors, and true country music classics like Keith Whitley and Chris LeDoux. In 2004 the pair moved to Arlington, TX, where Jay was a pitching coach for the University of Texas at Arlington. They celebrated marriage with all of their loved ones in 2006 and Erin continued enjoying life as a coach’s wife supporting Jay and the team. Their time in Arlington was treasured with close friends and the birth of their daughter, Mia, in 2010. In 2014 their family moved to Huntsville, TX, when Jay took a role as pitching coach and later head coach for Sam Houston State University baseball. It was in Huntsville that they became a family of four after the birth of their son, Eric, later that same year. As her kids got older, Erin took a position as a technology and PE teacher at Faith Lutheran School, where her true talent for loving and nurturing kids shone. She was devoted to her kids, her kids’ friends, and all of the children in her school. If someone needed a mom to ride a roller coaster, she was strapped in. Car pools, fishing, shopping, serving lunches—whatever was needed, she was there. Erin thrived as a mother and spent time anywhere her kids wanted to be, whether it meant she was in the stands or on their fishing boat. Her favorite place to be was next to her kids. As a friend, Erin was quiet and reserved until she knew you well—but once she determined you were a friend, you were in her circle for life. Erin loved her family—and her chosen family—fiercely. Boy, we were lucky to be loved by her. Erin was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents. Erin is survived by her husband, Jay Sirianni, and their children, Mia and Eric; her parents, Ed and Mona McKernan (Emporia, KS); her sisters, Jamie (McKernan) Pollard and family, and Kelly (McKernan) Roberts and family; her in-laws, John and Ginger Sirianni (Indianola, IA) and family; along with many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Faith Lutheran School in Erin’s name. The family would love for attendees to please wear Erin’s favorite colors, blue and green, to her service. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Huntsville, TX. A repast will follow in the fellowship hall. Memorial condolences may be made to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Erin Jessica Sirianni

March 19, 1979 - December 8, 2025