Helen Rose Eckley, 91, of Clearfield died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 at Penn Highlands Clearfield.
Mrs. Eckley was born March 14, 1926 in Brookville, the daughter of John and Anna (Kavanaugh) Zitzelberger.
She was a graduate of the Clearfield Hospital School of Nursing in the class of 1947. She was also a graduate of the Indiana University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
Mrs. Eckley was employed at the Clearfield Hospital for 40 years as a registered Nurse. She was the director of nursing at the hospital for 16 years.
She was a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church of Clearfield. She served in various ways, including the Catholic Daughters of America, Rosary and Altar Society, Eucharistic Minister, Bereavement Committee and Hospital Visiting Committee.
Mrs. Eckley was involved in many organizations: Clearfield Hospital Nursing Alumni, Nursing Administrators Forum, National League of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Hospital Council of Western PA, Regional Medical Program Task Force, Hospital Community Advisory Committee, American Association of University Women and Mid-State Literacy Program.
She served on and volunteered with the American Heart Association Board, the Licensed Practical Nurse Advisory Board, Red Cross Blood Mobile Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program Council and as a Clearfield Vo-Tech Health Assistant.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was the last member of her generation. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clair D. “Buck” Eckley, to whom she was married Aug. 5, 1950 and who died Dec. 28, 2002; two sisters, Bernadette Afton and Mary Corbett; and two brothers, Leo and Ray Zitzelberger.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, with Msgr. Henry Krebs as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Brookville.
Friends will be received from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Bennett & Houser Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield. The Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Monday.
Mrs. Eckley expressed that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
To send online tributes, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.