Carmella Smallhoover

POLAND - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Church, celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. William Connell, preceded by a 9:20 a.m. prayer service at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, for Mrs. Carmella M. Smallhoover, 80, who passed away peacefully Friday evening at Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Smallhoover was born on Sept. 13, 1935, in Pittsburgh, daughter of Angelo F. and Louise (Mastandrea) Petraglia.

She graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School, before enrolling in Robert Morris College, from where she obtained her Associate Degree in Secretarial Science. Carmella later graduated from Youngstown State University with her Bachelor and Master of Science, both in Elementary Education, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Phi, and the YSU Honor Society.

After college, Carmella devoted her life to children. She worked for Poland Local Schools for 35 years, before retiring in 2011. She began her career as a special education tutor at McKinley Elementary. She later taught, and then became principal at North Elementary, and finished her career as the principal of Poland Union Elementary.

Carmella was very involved in the Poland Rotary, where she served as the president, the Holy Family Church, where she was a lector and Eucharistic minister, the Poland All-Sports Booster Club, where she served on the board of trustees, and the Poland Educational Foundation, where she was named Administrator of The Year.

She enjoyed traveling with her family, was an avid golfer, and loved to shop. Most importantly, Carmella loved her family, especially their Sunday dinners that she would prepare for everyone.

Carmella leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 60 years, William Smallhoover, whom she married on June 23, 1955; two daughters, Kristen (Don) Dailey of Boardman and Evelyn (Timothy) Stanton of Poland; two brothers, Vincent A. Petraglia of Philadelphia and Carmine A. Petraglia of Pittsburgh; and two grandsons, Dr. Robert Stanton II of Cincinnati and William Grey Stanton of Poland.

Besides her parents, Carmella was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Erica Jon.

Family and friends may pay their respects today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will take place at Poland Riverside Cemetery.

Carmella's family requests in lieu of flowers, material tributes be made to Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514, or to the Holy Family Church, 2731 Center Road, Poland, OH 44514.

Please visit www.higgins-readon.com to view this tribute and send condolences.