Eileen L. Clemente 1943-2025

Eileen was born on May 10, 1943, in Youngstown, a daughter of Joseph and Julia Skovira Franko.

The family moved to Poland when Eileen was a child, and she graduated from Poland Seminary High School in 1961.

She started dating her husband, Sam Clemente, while in high school, and they married Sept. 19, 1964. They had two children, Cynthia Clemente and Samuel Clemente.

Together, they opened Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers in February 1966. It was a long journey with only 14 funerals that first year; however, with hard work and dedication, the business grew. Friends and family stepped up and gave of their time and talent to enable their dream to survive.

They opened an ambulance business shortly afterward and started a second funeral home in New Middletown in 1976.

Sam died in October 1989 in a tragic accident. At that point, Cynthia had acquired her funeral director’s license, and their son, Samuel, was attending Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Eileen took over the ambulance service along with her daughter, and her son operated the funeral homes. She put her heart and soul into the ambulance division with locations in Sebring, Dover, Boardman, Warren and Struthers. She also started the Ohio Ambulance Network in an effort to join forces with other ambulance services throughout Ohio to contract with managed care networks. She was an active member and was on the board of the Ohio Ambulance Association for several years.

Eileen was dedicated to the business; however, she had one fatal flaw — her kind heart. The ambulance division closed in 2014. However, her children continue to operate the funeral homes and continue their parent’s legacy.

Eileen was very involved in her community. She was a member of the Italian Mother’s Club, St. Anthony’s Ladies Auxiliary, the Knollwood Garden Club and the St. Nicholas Altar and Rosary Society.

She bowled at Holiday Bowl for over 40 years on the Homemakers Bowling League. She started the Red Hat Club with her girlfriends and continued to play cards with her friends until just recently. Her card buddies at the Inn shared afternoons and evenings filled with laughter.

Her greatest joy was the summer home Sam and she built at Conneaut Lake, Pa. She was an officer in the Midway Civic Club at the lake for many years and thoroughly enjoyed planning their social events. She spent many an early morning taking the ski boat out at the crack of dawn so her son, Sam, could ski on “Glass.” She also was a dedicated motocross Mom, pulling trailers loaded with bikes to events throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio every weekend. She loved doing it as much as Sam enjoyed the competition.

The other place she loved was Naples, Florida. Sam and she purchased a home there along with her sister, Louise, and husband, Clyde. Many New Years were spent there with her family. She also loved to travel with family and friends on excursions to England, San Francisco, New England, Las Vegas, and extended weekends in Amish country and Niagara-on-the-Lake. She always loved excursions, especially shopping with her daughter. The two of them could shop someone under the table. When Eileen moved to The Inn at Poland Way, her name was always first on the list for the bus trips to lunch, Christmas lights, Scrappers games and many more.

Eileen was an amazing Mom and Mimi. However, she transitioned from “Mom” to our friend “Eileen.” That is a gift that cannot be put into words, other than it takes an extraordinary parent to navigate the journey from parent to friend, and she did it with grace and love.

Eileen leaves her children, Cynthia (Joey Spotleson) Clemente and Samuel C. (Traci) Clemente, both of Poland; two grandchildren, Joseph “Sepp” Clemente of Pittsburgh and Julieann Clemente of Poland; and her brother-in-law, Clyde Barton of Meadville, Pa.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sam; and her sister, Louise Barton. Eileen’s family wishes to thank the staff of The Inn at Poland Way and Ed and Diane Reese for the joy and compassion she found living there over the last several years. Deep appreciation also goes out to the staff at Patriot Physical Therapy and Patriot Hospice for the care they extended to her.

A prayer service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at the Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Our Savior Parish-St. Nicholas Church, 764 Fifth St., Struthers.

Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at the funeral home.

Donations in Eileen’s memory can be made to ACLD School and Learning Center, 18 E. Wood St., Youngstown, OH 44503.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent at www.ClementeFuneralHomes.com.

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