Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Kosanovic

Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Kosanovic, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Country Acres Personal Care Home in Titusville.

Born April 27, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the first child of the late John Charles and Anna Margaret (Hovanac) Smalling, Betty was named after her mother's younger sister who also served as her Godmother. Betty was first raised in the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh. Betty's family moved often due to the nature of her father's employment with 5&10-cent chain stores, most notably Woolworths and G.C. Murphy Company. As a result, Betty lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania cities of Aliquippa, Erie, Chester, McKeesport, Ambridge, Connellsville, Kittanning, and Meadville. She graduated from Meadville High School in June 1945. Following graduation, Betty accepted a position as a bookkeeper with Farmer's Supply and Hardware where she met and fell in love with the son of the owner, her future husband, the late Robert (Bob) Kosanovic. A Justice of the Peace married Betty and Bob on February 15, 1947, followed the very next day by larger public ceremony at the Christ Episcopal Church, where they received the blessing of the Pastor, Reverend Schwartz. After spending their wedding night at the Nixon Hotel in Butler, Pennsylvania, Betty and Bob traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for their honeymoon.

After moving into their first house in the Neason Hill neighborhood of Meadville, the newlyweds were blessed with the birth of their first child in February 1948, quickly followed by the birth of identical triplet boys in November 1948. Two more children would arrive, a girl in 1950 and another boy in 1954. The family of eight then moved to Petrolia, Pennsylvania where they owned and operated the Petrolia Hardware store. Following a disastrous fire that destroyed the family business in 1957, the family moved to Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

In addition to raising six children, Betty was employed for many years as an executive secretary with the National Clay Pipe Association. Following her husband's retirement in 1972, Betty and Bob moved to Meadville where Betty accepted a position as general manager with the David Mead Inn. They later moved to Tidioute to enjoy their retirement years close to their daughter.

Betty had a generous loving heart and she relished cooking for her family and decorating the house for festive occasions, such as birthdays and the holidays. She was a whiz at crossword puzzles and she enjoyed, among other things, crochet, knitting and needlepoint. Above all else, Betty was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She considered her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a blessing that provided her with great joy and comfort.

Betty is survived by her children, R.J. Kosanovic of Columbus, with grandchildren Jennifer and Bobby; Joseph Michael and wife, Jeanne, of Redmond, OR., with grandchildren Michael, Valerie, Maureen, Chris and Craig; Gerald Edward and wife, Lynn Marie of Corvallis, OR., with grandchildren Julia and Jared; James George and wife, Gina, of Portland, OR., with granddaughter Alyson; Mitchell Steven with wife, Valerie of Wickliffe, OH., and, daughter, Karen Susan Soukup and husband, Rich, of Tidioute, PA., with grandchildren, Edward and Amy. Her sisters Joan Caroline and Nancy Sue, sister-in-laws Shoy Campbell and Wilma Kosanovic, and eleven great-grandchildren also survive Betty. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert of 55 years, and, her brother, John Smalling.

Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, from 2-4 and 7-9 at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St, Meadville, where Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday with Fr. Johnathan Schmolt, Pastor of St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, officiating.

Betty will be laid to rest next to her husband, Robert, in St. Brigid Cemetery, West Mead Twp.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335. Donations may also be made to the Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, attention Dr. Ralph Nixon.

Share your condolences at www.miznerfuneralhome.com