Eileen L. Clemente

Poland – A prayer service will be held at 10:30 am on December 13, Saturday, at the Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers followed by a Mass of Christian burial at Christ Our Savior/ St. Nicholas Church at 764 Fifth Street in Struthers at 11:00 am on December 13 for Eileen L. Clemente who died peacefully at the Inn at Poland Way on December 9.

Eileen was born on May 10, 1943 in Youngstown a daughter of Joseph and Julia Skovira Franko. The family moved to Poland when Eileen was a child and she graduated from Poland Seminary High School in 1961. She started dating her husband, Sam Clemente, while in high school and they married September 19, 1964. They had two children Cynthia Clemente and Samuel Clemente.

Together they opened Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers in February 1966. It was a long journey with only fourteen funerals that first year; however, with hard work and dedication the business grew. Friends and family stepped up and gave of their time and talent to enable their dream to survive. They opened an ambulance business shortly afterwards and started a second funeral home in New Middletown in 1976. Sam died in October 1989 in a tragic accident. At that point, Cynthia had acquired her funeral director's license and their son Samuel, was attending Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Eileen took over the ambulance service along with her daughter and her son operated the funeral homes. She put her heart and soul into the ambulance division with locations in Sebring, Dover, Boardman, Warren and Struthers. She also started the Ohio Ambulance Network in an effort to join forces with other ambulance services throughout Ohio to contract with managed care networks. She was an active member and was on the board of the Ohio Ambulance Association for several years. Eileen was dedicated to the business; however, she had one fatal flaw, her kind heart. The ambulance division closed in 2014. However, her children continue to operate the funeral homes and continue their parent's legacy.

Eileen was very involved in her community. She was a member of the Italian Mother's Club, St. Anthony's Ladies Auxiliary, the Knollwood Garden Club, and St. Nicholas Altar and Rosary Society. She bowled at Holiday Bowl for over 40 years on the Homemakers Bowling League. She started the Red Hat Club with her girlfriends and continued to play cards with her friends until just recently. Her card buddies at the Inn shared afternoons and evenings filled with laughter. Her greatest joy was the summer home Sam and she built at Conneaut Lake, PA. She was an officer in the Midway Civic Club at the lake for many years and thoroughly enjoyed planning their social events. She spent many an early morning taking the ski boat out at the crack of dawn so her son, Sam, could ski on "Glass." She also was a dedicated motocross Mom, pulling trailers loaded with bikes to events throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio every weekend. She loved doing it as much as Sam enjoyed the competition. The other place she loved was Naples Florida. Sam and she purchased a home there along with her sister, Louise, and husband, Clyde. Many New Years were spent there with her family.

She also loved to travel with family and friends with excursions to England, San Francisco, New England, Las Vegas, and extended weekends in Amish country and Niagra on the Lake. She always loved excursions especially shopping with her daughter. The two of them could shop someone under the table. When Eileen moved to Inn at Poland Way, her name was always first on the list for the bus trips to lunch, Christmas lights, the Scrapper's Games and many more.

Eileen was an amazing Mom and Mimi. However, she transitioned from "Mom" to our friend "Eileen." That is a gift that cannot be put into words other than it takes an extraordinary parent to navigate the journey from parent to friend and she did it with grace and love.

Eileen leaves her children Cynthia (Joey Spotleson) Clemente and Samuel C. (Traci) Clemente both of Poland, two grandchildren Joseph "Sepp" Clemente of Pittsburgh and Julieann Clemente of Poland, and her brother-in-law, Clyde Barton of Meadville, PA.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Sam, and her sister, Louise Barton.

Eileen's family wishes to thank the staff of the Inn at Poland Way and Ed and Diane Reese for the joy and compassion she found living there over the last several years. Deep appreciation also goes out to the staff at Patriot Physical therapy and Patriot Hospice for the care they extended to her.

Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, December 12 at the Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers.

Donations in Eileen's memory can be made to ACLD School and Learning Center which can be mailed to 18 East Wood Street in Youngstown, OH 44503.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent at www.ClementeFuneralHomes.com.