Elva Ruth Kowallis

            Elva Ruth Kowallis, 67, of Conneaut Lake passed away peacefully at The Marquette Hospice of Crawford County, Meadville on Monday, February 15, 2016 after a long and courageous battle with melanoma.  On her behalf, her family would like to encourage everyone to get regular checkups with a dermatologist.                        Born in Meadville on July 13, 1948, Elva was the daughter of Carl O. and Elva Anna (Roehrig) Powell. She married John R. Kowallis on March 28, 1970, and he survives.                        Elva graduated from Saegertown High School and then attended the then former Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with an R.N. degree. She went on to work for City Hospital and then Meadville Medical Center for over 40 years, spending the majority of her career in the New Life Unit where she helped deliver hundreds if not thousands of newborns.  Elva loved being a nurse and loved helping expectant mothers give birth.  She was a strong advocate of breastfeeding.                        During her career at MMC, Elva found time to graduate from St. Joseph's College in Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree. Elva was also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Conneaut Lake.            Surviving Elva, in addition to her husband Jack, are four children: a son Robert John Kowallis and his wife Betsy of Erie, a daughter Ruth Ann Stauffer and her husband Kory of Summit Township, Erie County, a daughter Mary Rose Sangl and her husband John of Summit Township, Erie County, and a son William Joseph Kowallis and his wife Kimberly of Pittsburgh; nine grandchildren, Alexei and Mary Elizabeth Kowallis; Jack, Justin, Jacob, and Ava Sangl; and Mia, Calla, and Jayce Stauffer.  Other survivors are a brother Carl Powell and his wife Joan of Lynchburg, Virginia and a sister Marjorie Zinnamosca and her husband Marcello of Conneaut Lake.                  Family and friends may call at the Dickson Funeral Home, 130 N Second Street, Conneaut Lake from 2pm to 4pm and again from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday February 17.  Services will be held at 11am on Thursday, February 18 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 240 N Third Street, Conneaut Lake, with a private interment at Roselawn Memorial Gardens to follow.   Elva loved animals, especially cats. If you wish, a donation to the Crawford County Humane Society, 11012 Kennedy Hill Road, Meadville, PA 16335 would be appreciated. Please sign Elva’s online guestbook at hatheway-tedesco.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the Dickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Rocco R. Tedesco III, supervisor, 130 N Second Street, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316