Elaine Andras – Mentor, Ohio

Elaine Andras, 86, of Mentor, Ohio, passed away Dec. 5, 2023, at Hospice House, Cleveland. She was born Feb. 14, 1937, in Donora, to the late Steven and Mary Rudinec. Elaine was a 1954 graduate of Donora High School and worked as an operator for Bell Telephone, then later as a secretary for a transformers company in Donora. A devoted Catholic all her life, Elaine was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Donora (now St. Andrew the Apostle) and lately the Catholic Community of St. Gabriel in Concord, Ohio. She served the Slovak Catholic Sokol as the secretary for Group 6 Assembly 163. Her most cherished pastime, though, was singing in the church choir. For 40 years, Elaine resided in Carroll Township, Pa., where she spent the day watching her “stories” and cheering on her favorite Pittsburgh sports teams. Elaine was a champion bowler and crocheted numerous afghans that she gifted to her children and grandchildren. Around the holidays, she enjoyed baking apricot cookies and nut rolls and teaching her children how to properly make pierogies. Later in life, she developed a love of reading what some may call romance novels, but Elaine swore she skipped over “those parts” of the story. At home, she surrounded herself with anything duck-related, from plushies to bathtub toys. (One time at Disney World, she almost ran away with Donald Duck. Literally.) Elaine’s favorite color was yellow. She took pride in feeding the “fishies” in her daughter’s aquarium and she created colorful latch hook artwork that she sometimes called a “pain in the dupa.” Elaine has traveled to several far-off places like Minnesota (or “Minnie-sota”, as she called it) and Hawaii, and to places closer to home, like McDonald’s. It is not certain how many Hallmark Channel movies she watched in her lifetime, but it is safe to say she had watched them all at least half a dozen times. Elaine was cunning at card games, especially gin rummy and 500; she would spend many hours at night winning game after game against her grandkids. After moving to Ohio in 2016, the Cleveland Guardians became her new favorite sports team, though she still carried a fondness and exasperation for her Pittsburgh Steelers. Most recently, she discovered the benefits of a great massage and pedicure, noting that her podiatrist never cut her nails that nicely. Elaine preferred listening to John Denver and Perry Como, and at almost every wedding she attended, she requested Al Martino’s “Spanish Eyes.” Survivors include her daughters, Susan (David) Kane, Michelle (John) Kuch and Paula (Brian) Bisson; grandchildren, Sean King, Marlaina Smith, Aaron (Brandy) Smith, Rebecca (fiancé, Christian Longberry) Kuch, Logan Kuch and Cecilia Kuch; great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Aiden and Erinn; and many nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends. Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Andras; and siblings, MaryAnn Calzacorto, Stephen Rudinec, Pauline Ellin, Virginia Artalona and John Rudinec. The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at BRUNNER SANDEN DEITRICK FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION CENTER, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Ohio 44060. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Township, Ohio 44077. Please meet at the church. A family burial will take place in Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora. Memorial contributions in honor of Elaine may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org or to St. Gabriel’s Religious Education Program, 9935 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Township, OH 44077.  Send flowers and offer condolences at www.brunners.com.