AUSTINTOWN - Lena Nenadich Kovalan, formerly of Youngstown, passed away Friday afternoon,  Dec. 13, 2019, with loving family by her side.

Lena was born Jan. 3, 1930, in Carbon, Pa., a daughter of the late Joseph and Lucy Dalmatin Nenadich, and graduated from Bessemer High School in Pennsylvania in 1947.

She was a Registered Nurse, graduating from Youngstown Hospital School of Nursing in 1952, and worked at Southside Hospital until her retirement in 1990.

The epitome of a caregiver and center of her family, Lena enjoyed cooking family dinners and sharing her table with friends and neighbors alike. She also enjoyed travel, bowling, casinos, theater and dance, classic movies, crossword puzzles, and reading.

Lena enjoyed social activities as a member of the Youngstown Hospital Association Alumni; the Ohio Nurse's Association District No. 3; the Retired RN Interest Group; and as a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Holy Name of Jesus Church in Youngstown.

Lena married Theodore Kovalan on Nov. 14, 1953, and was a mother to seven children, whom she now leaves, John (Debra) Kovalan, Patricia (Scott Shope) Kovalan, Jane Kovalan, Nancy Iovenette, Robert (Carla) Kovalan, Mary (Joe) Schesler, and Joanne Antigua; seven grandchildren, Lisa (Paul) Gardinier, Jennifer (Ben) Dudek, John Kovalan Jr., Robert Kovalan Jr., Benjamin Miller, Shaena Kovalan, and Katherine Antigua; and three great-grandchildren, Courtney Kovalan, and Jordan and Jaden Dudek.

Her husband passed away Nov. 14, 2008, the couples' 55th wedding anniversary. Lena was also preceded in death by siblings, Mary Ullery, John Nenadich, Margaret Sullivan, Lucille Rose, and Rose Nenadich.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Rd., Youngstown.

Services will begin at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the funeral home, and will continue with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 613 N. Lakeview Ave., Youngstown.

Committal services will follow the Mass and will be at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, where Lena will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband.

Lena's family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the Salvation Army through https://neo.salvationarmy.org; or to St. Vincent DePaul Society, P.O. Box 224, Youngstown, OH 44501.

St. Vincent DePaul Society
P.O. Box 224, Youngstown OH 44501
Web: http://mahoningsvdp.org

Salvation Army
https://neo.salvationarmy.org, Youngstown OH 44501
Web: https://neo.salvationarmy.org