Elva D. (Horvath) Stark, 72, of Minetto, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at the Oswego Hospital surrounded by her family and friends.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late John and Annie (VonStettina) Horvath.
Mrs. Stark had been a resident of Springside Apartments for the last 3 years and before that had resided on Ridgeway Sites Ave. in Minetto.
Elva worked as a volunteer in the Minetto Elementary School for several years while her children attended school. Later she worked at the Pontiac Nursing Home as a Secretary and then for many years for James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant.
In 2006, she was recognized by the Town of Minetto for her work in beautification, having been the driving force behind planting flowers and maintaining the memorial park along the river and around the Town Hall.
Mrs. Stark was an active member of the Minetto United Methodist Church; she served on numerous committees, the Board of Trustees, was part of the Women’s Fellowship and helped every year with the annual Harvest Dinner and rummage sales. She was a Cub Scout leader for several years.
She loved the outdoors, gardening, painting, traveling and most of all being with friends and family.
Surviving is her daughter, Jill (Leonard) Watkins of Mexico, N.Y.; two grandsons, Cameron Watkins of Mexico and Lennie (Kara) Watkins of Alabama; two sisters, Joan (Charles) Villa of Texas and Bonnie Ketchum of Minetto. several nieces, nephews and many friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Lonnie “Ray†Stark in 1991 and a son, John Stark in 1989.
Memorial Services will be held 7p.m. Thursday at the Nelson Funeral Home. Calling hours will be held 4-7p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, at the funeral home, 11 W. Albany St.
Donations can be made to the Minetto United Methodist Church or the Minetto Beautification Committee c/o N. Prarie, Rt. 48, Oswego, NY 13126
Online Condolences may be made at www.nelson-funeralhome.com
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To Elva’s daughter and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of loss. Your Mother was a good friend to us here in Florida and to me in New York over the years. We have so missed her since she was no longer able to make her winter trips to Florida, and I know that all of her friends in Plantation Landings will miss her as well. We remember how excited she was when she told us about the upcoming birth of her first grandchild. She will sorely be missed, and we will let the people in Plantation Landings know of her demise. Our prayers are with you and your family in this loss.
To Elva’s daughter and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of loss. Your Mother was a good friend to us here in Florida and to me in New York over the years. We have so missed her since she was no longer able to make her winter trips to Florida, and I know that all of her friends in Plantation Landings will miss her as well. We remember how excited she was when she told us about the upcoming birth of her first grandchild. She will sorely be missed, and we will let the people in Plantation Landings know of her demise. Our prayers are with you and your family in this loss.
Robert and Barbara Maki
Lake Wales, FL
Elva was such an influence on my life I words cannot cover it. I remember the first time Lonnie brought her home to meet us all. She was such a lady and I was a young tom-boy. I told myself that I wanted to be just like her. Unfortunately, I fell very short. The distance between our families was far, but Elva’s love was always close. My mother never worried about her son, because Lonnie had Elva and her wonderful family to care for him. I remember Lonnie telling me on a walk along the lake, after John’s funeral, that he was not the best of husbands but Elva was always there for him and he loved her so much. He said she was his pearl in the ocean. We will all miss her and we want Jill and her family to know our prayers and thoughts are with them. All our love, Joyce and family.