Elizabeth (Lewis) DeChant

Elizabeth Lewis DeChant, 92, passed away peacefully after a brief illness early Friday
morning, November 2nd, at the home of her grand-daughter in Altadena, Ca. where she
had relocated recently with her daughter and son-in-law of Hubbard Twp., with whom
she has made her home over the last 6 years.
Elizabeth was born September 9, 1920 in Niles, Ohio, the 7th child of 11, of Daniel
Lewis and Margaret Dennis Lewis. She graduated from McKinley High School in l938.
She married the late Cyril J. DeChant on February 18, 1941, and they were life long
residents of Girard, and members of St. Rose Parish. During the wartime years,
Elizabeth worked at the Ravenna Arsenal, and in the early 1950's worked at General
Electric in Warren for several years. Elizabeth had a life-long interest and passion for
genealogical research, and 45 years ago, long before it was fashionable to do so, had
traced her own Welsh lineage, as well as that of her husband's family. She had a love
"for all things Welsh", especially Welsh music, and was a lifelong member of several
national, regional and local Welsh organizations. In 1969, while on a family trip to
Wales with her father, Daniel Lewis, they were invited to be members of the American
Delegation to the Investiture, and as honorary guests were seated in the front row at the
Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales.
Also, Elizabeth was a talented artist in her own right, as well as an avid journalist who
journaled every day for over 60 years about her life & the happenings about her, and
those of her family and close friends. She also corresponded by letter regularly over all
those years with her Welsh cousins, and other relatives and friends from all the world
round.
Elizabeth was a founding Life Member and Trustee of the Girard Historical Society,
serving as its Secretary for over 28 years. Along with her many other accomplishments
for the Society, in 1985, she spearheaded the extensive Oral History Project, funded
through a library grant, which to this day remains archived and available as a historical
library resource at the Girard Public Library. Over a 60 year period, she was active in
numerous other organizations, serving as President, as well as in many other official
capacities, of the: Trumbull Deanery Council of the National Council of Catholic Women;
St. Rose Altar & Rosary Society; Girard Council of Church Women United; Girard
Women's Welsh Club; Girard Ladies Golf League; Trumbull Chapter, Ohio
Geneological Society; the Women's Butler Art Group; Rosalima Garden Club; and St.
Rose Catholic Women's Club. She was also an active member of the Cambria
Women's Club and The National Gymanfu Ganu Association. Elizabeth was a deeply
spiritual person, who dedicated much time to church related cultural and spiritual
activities, e.g., organizing numerous bible study groups and book clubs both regionally
and at St. Rose Parish between 1955 and1970; doing altar linens weekly from 1962
through 1973; and serving as a frequent national delegate to NCCW conventions. As
President of Girard Church Women United in the early 70's, she organized ecumenical
'living room dialog groups', and coordinated many social action projects in the
community. She was also a Life Member of the Girl Scouts of America, having joined in
1930 as a child, and continued a life-long dedication to youth and to the Girl Scout
Movement, both as a member, troop leader, organizer, trainer, holding offices too
numerous to mention at the local, regional, and national levels. From the late 1940's
until the late 1970's, she was especially dedicated to the growth of the Girl Scouting
program in the Lake to River region, as well as at St.Rose in Girard. In the 1970's, she
served as President of the Lake to River Girl Scout Council. Over many years and in
many forums she gave freely of her time and energies to help others.
In 1969, she was presented the "Outstanding Volunteer Award", by Mayor Flask, on
behalf of the Volunteer Services Bureau of Youngstown. In 1972, she was awarded the
Thanks Badge, the highest adult award in scouting, by the Lake to River Girl Scout
Council, and was the recipient of the St. Ann Award in 1974, by Bishop Malone, at St.
Columba's Cathedral. She was listed in Who's Who of American Women in 1981& 1982.
Elizabeth above all valued her close and extended family and friends. She is survived
by her daughter, Betsy DeChant-Morris (Dr.Roger Morris); her son, Cyril Joseph
DeChant Jr.(Colleen Parks) of Girard; and her son, Dennis Evan DeChant (Rose
Johntony) also of Girard; 8 grand-children: Megan Elizabeth Morris of Austin, Texas;
Emily Rose Morris, of Altadena, Ca.; Danielle DeChant-Sharlock (John Sharlock) of
Girard; Stephanie DeChant Garasic, (Doug Garasic) of Brookfield; Joshua DeChant of
Bowling Green; Evan DeChant of Pittsburgh; Laura DeChant and Jacqueline DeChant
of Girard; and 1 great grand-child Kyrene Arianna DeChant-Sharlock also of Girard.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years; a son, Joseph, who died as an
infant; 1 sister, Elsie Ellis, and 8 brothers, Evan, Brynley, Wilbert, Robert, Daniel,
Kenneth, Raymond, and Herbert. Another sister, Hannah Mary died in infancy.
The family has requested that donations in her memory may be made to Beatitude
House; The Mill Creek Children's Center; and The Dana Foundation for Brain
Research. A Mass of a Christian Burial will be held on Friday November 9, 2012 at 10:30 am at St. Rose Church preceded by a prayer service at 10:00 am at Blackstone Funeral Home.  Family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 4-8 pm at the funeral home.  Interment will be held at Girard City Cemetery.  Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send condolences to the DeChant family.