Mother Eloise McDowell – Charleroi

Mother Eloise McDowell, 104, of Charleroi, was ushered by angels into eternal life on Sept. 22, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Greensboro, Ala., on Dec. 23, 1914. She was the daughter of the late Nathan McDowell and Mary Lyles McDowell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Aaron McDowell, James McDowell, George McDowell, Frank McDowell and Wilson McDowell; two sisters; Louise Newberry and Rose Anderson; and two nieces, Delcenia White and Mary Ellen Bell. Eloise started school at Patterson Elementary School in Greensboro, Ala., then moved to Birmingham, Ala., at the age of 7 and continued her education. She was baptized at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Greensboro, Ala., at age 16. She moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., at age 20 and started her employment as a housekeeper for Elaine Dibiase. She retired at age 62 and moved to Donora in 1978. Eloise was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church of Donora for many years and became the mother of the church on Sept. 17, 2006. She was a member of the Carrie B. Hill Missions for 20 years as treasurer, senior choir, served 15 years as secretary and served on the deaconess board. Her favorite Bible reading was Psalm 27. She was dedicated to visiting the sick and she loved to travel. She leaves to cherish her loving memory four nephews, Wilson McDowell Jr. of Sacramento, Calif., Michael McDowell and wife Renee of Donora, George McDowell Jr. and wife Linda of Los Angeles, Calif., and Frank McDowell Jr. of New York, N.Y.; four nieces, Dianne Dixon of Springfield Garden, N.Y., Jackie and husband Clemmett Woods of Madison, Ala., Iva and husband Woody Jones of Long Branch, Pa., and Francette and husband Michael Holland of Hempstead, N.Y.; and a host of great, great-great, great-great-great, and great-great-great-great nephews and nieces; along with a host of cousins, church family and dear friends. A special thank you to Uniontown Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and the Washington and Fayette Hospice for the loving care given to our aunt. Mother Eloise will be sadly missed. Her soul has been anchored in the Lord. Family and friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, at St. Paul Baptist Church, 53 South McKean Ave., Donora, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. The eulogy will be given by the Rev. Lee Haney Sr., pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, Donora. The service will be followed by interment in Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora. Final celebrations are entrusted to MARSHALL MARRA FUNERAL HOME 216 Chess St., Monongahela, PA 15063, 724-258-6767, Marshall Marra, funeral director, Bryan Lawson, assistant director.