YOUNGSTOWN — Carla Antonia Ellis, 78, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

Born Feb. 1, 1944, in Youngstown, the eldest daughter of first-generation Italian-Americans, Mary Naples DeAngelis and Carl DeAngelis, a decorated paratrooper in the 101st Airborne during World War II, Carla didn’t meet her father until she was 2 years-old, due to his extraordinary service in Europe.

Her bond with her two sisters, Sandra Coco and Patricia Vavrinak, gave her the grounding to also become a dedicated friend, niece, cousin, aunt, mom, mother-in-law and grandmother. A natural born teacher with a quest for travel and knowledge, she taught for 30 years at her own alma mater, Austintown Fitch High School and held a leadership position, as chairman, in the Austintown Teachers’ Association.

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Youngstown State University. One of her favorite Fitch students, Phil Smrek, summed up her legacy, “She would be as at home in a one-room school house as she would in an Ivy League lecture hall because she was doing what she loved “educating.”

She taught her two children, Brian Ellis and Antonia (Toni) Ellis, not only that same quest for knowledge, but also to possess a strong work ethic and to value independent thinking. Maria Ellis, her wonderful daughter-in-law, was deservedly dubbed as her third child. Carla was married for 21 years to her high school sweetheart, James Ellis, the father of their children. They remained friends throughout her lifetime. Carla’s underlying nature was to nurture, especially her beloved and highly cherished grandchildren, Brandon (Jordan) Ellis, Adam Ellis, Brianna Ellis and the most recent apple of her eye, Clara Ellis. She was always there for them. A life’s work which has come to a natural end but will exponentially increase in value as the years go on.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Calvary Cemetery Chapel, 248 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509