Clara G Whitley

Clara G. Whitley, age 82, of Toledo, Ohio passed away peacefully on Sunday June 14, 2009 at Hospice of NW Ohio surrounded by her devoted and loving family. She was born on December 30, 1926 to Vincent and Julia (Balkan) Galownia in Steubenville, Ohio, the oldest of four children. Clara spent her growing up years in her hometown of Steubenville, graduating from Catholic Central H.S., then moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Dept. of the Navy. There she met the love of her life, Chuck Whitley, at a USO dance. They walked, danced, and laughed their way through the streets and cherry blossoms of D.C., and were married on May 2, 1953 in Steubenville. Married life took her and her family up and down the eastern seaboard, experiencing many beautiful cities along the way. During those years she worked at her children's schools, in retail, and again in government at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and for the IRS and Veterans' Administration Clinic in Toledo, Ohio where she retired. Throughout her life, Clara's family was always #1. Whether it was raising and supporting her children, cooking up fantastic holiday meals, baking birthday cakes, traveling to family functions both happy and sad, enjoying numerous family vacations, or traveling with her husband on many excursions including 4 trips across country by car, life was an adventure not to be missed! This is how she approached each new challenge that life brought her way, and this is the legacy that she leaves family and friends. Her easy smile, laughter, and tenderness will be greatly missed in this world. Clara is survived by her husband, Chuck; daughter Susan (Dave) Martis of Toledo; son Stephen of Columbus, OH; brother Tony Galownia of Orange Vale, CA; brother John Galownia of Alta Loma, CA; and one adored granddaughter, Amanda Martis, of Toledo, OH. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and Julia, and brother Frank Galownia. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S Reynolds Rd on Tuesday June 23, 2009 from 2-8 p.m... Funeral services will begin in the mortuary on Wednesday June 24 at 9:30 a.m. followed by the mass of Christian burial at St. Joan of Arc Church. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery. A heartfelt "thank you" to the very caring ICU staff of St. Luke's Hospital and the tender, loving workers at Hospice of NW Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the above Hospice or to the Diocese of Toledo for vocations in the priesthood. And, of course, we cannot express enough thanks to family, friends and our parish for their continuous prayers and words of encouragement.

Clara G Whitley

December 30, 1926 - June 14, 2009