Barbara Ann Provoznik (nee Slater), 77, of Elyria, was taken home by the angels Friday, June 26, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was born September 8, 1937 in Bergoo, West Virginia, to James C. and Geraldine L. “Gerri” (nee Lloyd) Slater.
In 1942, the family moved to the top of Point Mountain, Fork Lick District in Webster County, West Virginia. Although she spent six months as a child in an iron lung with polio, Barbara was able to graduate on time with her class, May 27, 1955, from Webster Springs High School. In 1955, work permit in hand, she traveled to Washington D.C. to work with the F.B.I., typing criminal jackets. In the meantime, her family had to move to Elyria and in 1959, she married and subsequently had five children.
After her marriage ended, she was employed at Lee’s Pizza (now Walt’s), Ann & Andy’s, Humpty Dumpty’s and the 2200 Bar in South Lorain. By the end of the 1970s, she was hired by the Lorain County Office of Employment in Elyria. She subsequently was employed at ODOT in Oberlin, then at ODOT in Ashland in the construction payroll department, from where she retired as a project inspector. Barbara was an excellent cook who could make a meal from a nearly empty kitchen. Her favorite foods were pizza and vanilla ice cream. Barbara was loved instantly by almost all who met her. She enjoyed fishing in Lake Erie and sang in a small band that performed in nursing homes.
Upon entering Wesleyan Village as a resident, you could not pass by her room without entering to join her in singing Karaoke.
The loves of her life were her children and grandchildren. Surviving children include Paul A., Susan E., Steven J. (Robert), Michael S. (Shelly) and Donald D. Provoznik, all of Ohio; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Sandra (Bill) Phares; sister-in-law, Pennie Slater and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by a bother, James Slater in April of 2015; her parents and aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends will be received Tuesday, June 30, 2015 from 4 until 7 P.M., at Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 323 Middle Ave., Elyria. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at 11 A.M., at St. Mary Church, 320 Middle Ave., Elyria. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Elyria.
Barbara’s family express their appreciation to the staff, especially the STNAs and nurses of Wesleyan Village, for the exceptional care given to their mother.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesleyan Village, STNAs Holiday Activities Fund, 807 West Ave, Elyria, 44035 or The Arthritis Foundation, 4630 Richmond Rd., Suite 204, Cleveland, 44128 or Parkinson’s Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305.
For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
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