Elizabeth Allen Stavnitski

STAVNITSKI, Elizabeth Allen "Betsy" of Dayton, Ohio and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away peacefully in Ohio, August 24, 2015 Age 79. Betsy was born May 18, 1936, in Evanston, Illinois the daughter of Robert E. Allen and Cornelia Jones Allen. She was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, and then Dayton, Ohio, where she graduated from Oakwood High School in 1954. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Duke University in 1958, and later after raising her children, a Master's Degree in Nursing from Wright State University in 1985. Betsy was employed for many years as a practicing nurse and nurse executive at Miami Valley Hospital, an institution to which she was very dedicated and loved very much. She participated on the Board of the Greater Dayton YMCA, and was the President of the Visiting Nurses Association. She also participated for many years as a member of the City of Oakwood Board of Health as well as the City of Oakwood Planning Commission. Upon her retirement from the hospital, Betsy continued to serve her profession as a member of the Board of Directors of the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation. In May of 2015, many years after her retirement, Betsy was recognized by the hospital and Premier Health Partners with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Nursing. She was a member of Holy Angles Parish in Dayton, and Holy Family Parish at Hilton Head. Betsy is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, George J Stavnitski; her children, Anne S. Allen of Boone NC, David and Julia Stavnitski of Denver and Vail, CO, and Bob Stavnitski of Hilton Head Island, SC; Granddaughters Meagan and Shannen Stavnitski; and Grandsons Drew and Christian Bayley. Also surviving are her sister Nancy Allen Fahrmeier and husband Ray of Bluffton SC, and Hendersonville, NC , and their family, the Barbara and Bing Donahue family of Virginia and North Carolina, and the Kenneth and Judi Stavnitski family of Connecticut. Betsy leaves behind more wonderful friends than a person could hope to have. She was truly grateful for the joy they brought to her life. A Memorial Mass will be held at Holy Angels, 1322 Brown Street at K St. in Dayton on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 10:30am. The family will visit with friends and celebrate Betsy's life following the service at the Dayton Country Club, 555 Kramer Rd., Dayton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wright Public Library, 1776 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood, OH 45419, the Heritage Classic Foundation 71 Lighthouse Road, Suite 4200, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, or to any charity of choice. Plans for a memorial at Hilton Head will be published at a future date.