Elba Lillian Navarro

Elba Lillian Navarro, 79

Boardman…Elba Lillian Navarro, 79 passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Elba was born April 8, 1945 in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, a daughter of Julio Fuentes and Rosa Rentas.

She came to the Youngstown area in the late 1940’s as a child. She was a 1963 graduate of South High School and right after high school she went to beauty school.

Elba married the love of her life, Flor “Shorty” Navarro on August 28, 1965 at Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Youngstown. They were married for 69 years.

 Her dream was always to become a teacher. She fulfilled this dream by graduating from Youngstown State University with both a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Spanish and Education. She taught in the Youngstown City Schools at Roosevelt Elementary and Chaney High School for thirty years. She was given the Class Act Award from Channel 21 in which you had to be nominated by a student. She was also awarded the Martha Holden Jennings Educator Award.

After her retirement she volunteered at her church as an usher and greeter. She was also on many fundraising committees for OCCHA, a social service agency. Her favorite was the annual OCCHA Gala.

Together with her husband Shorty, they are great “ Friends of the University” having been given this honor in 2014.  They have a business and education scholarship at YSU, as well as scholarships for Hispanic students. Elba was also a member of Easter Seals, Akron Children’s Kids Crew, AARP Canfield Chapter, and OCCHA.

Elba was of the Catholic faith and a long- time member of Santa Rosa de Lima until its closing, later attending many of the area Catholic churches on Sundays.

She enjoyed reading, going shopping, spending summers at their lake home entertaining friends. She especially enjoyed going to lunch with her friends.

Elba will be deeply missed and always remembered by her husband, Shorty; her sister Nereida “Rita” Lopez of Florida; her cousins, Aida, Henry, Nancy, Luis, Migdalia and many nieces and nephews that she deeply loved.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Marvia Alicia Jusino and Hilda Torres and a nephew, Edwin Torres.

The Navarro family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell. In keeping with Elba’s wishes, services were private.

Entombment took place at Lake Park Cemetery.

The Navarro family would like to thank the Aids and Nurses from Care Builders, the Doctors and Nurses at Mercy Health ICU, Blood and Cancer Center and her family and friends for their compassionate and loving care.

Donations can be made in Elba’s memory to OCCHA, Children’s Programs 3660 Shirley Rd., Youngstown, Ohio 44502.

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