Eileen L. Novotny

CANFIELD — Eileen Letitia Walsh Novotny, 79, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Windsor House at Canfield. 

Eileen was born in Youngstown on Jan. 5, 1945, the middle child and oldest daughter of T. Carl and Thelma Irene Raub Walsh. 

Eileen attended St. Patrick School and graduated in 1963 from Cardinal Mooney High School, where she was senior class officer and an honor graduate. After receiving a scholarship, she attended Notre Dame College in Cleveland, later transferring to Youngstown State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, comprehensive science and secondary education. At YSU Eileen was active with the Newman Student Organization. During her junior year, on a Newman Club semester break trip to New York City, she met the love of her life, Ray Novotny. It was a blind date. They were married two years later on Jan. 27, 1968, at St. Patrick Church after they graduated from Youngstown State. 

Eileen was an active parishioner at St. Michael Church in Canfield for many years and with the encouragement of her then pastor, she pursued a master’s degree in theology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Without the support of her husband, Ray, and her children, Mary, Tom and Sean, she would not have been successful. Eileen also received a certificate from the Ignatian Spirituality Institute at John Carroll University in 2007. 

She taught science at Springfield Local High School. While raising her family she held several long-term substitute positions at various Mahoning County schools, including Canfield and Boardman High Schools. 

She was a youth minister at St. Patrick Parish, Hubbard, then served as Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry at St. Paul Parish, Salem, for several years. She returned to St. Michael Parish in Canfield, as pastoral minister, before going to the diocesan office to establish the Office of Lay Ministry Formation, which she headed up for 10 years. During that time, more than 700 people took classes at the three extension sites. 

Eileen was a commissioned leader of prayer and had done innumerable prayer services and communion services over the years. As a St. Michael parishioner, Eileen taught CCD classes, was an adult catechist for Generations of Faith, as well as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Liturgy Committee, taught adult scripture classes and belonged to St. Michael Altar Guild, the Garden Guild and chaired the 50th Anniversary Celebration of St. Michael Church in 2012. In addition, Eileen was a member of the Diocesan Committee on Women’s Issues. She belonged to Catholic Collegiate, served on the RCI team, was a lector, a Eucharistic minister, liturgy coordinator and spiritual director. Eileen also volunteered at the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality. She was a member of the Network Social Justice Lobby and volunteered at Potter’s Wheel. Most recently, she served as the director of programming at the Ursuline Center and served as an Ursuline Sisters associate. 

Eileen enjoyed knitting, gardening and reading; and she loved to teach!

Eileen will be dearly missed by her beloved husband, Raymond Novotny of Canfield. Together, they shared 56 years of marriage and three children. 

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Novotny Weingard (Jay) of Ruther Glen, Virginia; and sons, Thomas R. (April) Novotny of Columbus and Sean (Alexis) Novotny of Canfield; five grandchildren, Katie Weingard and Aiden, Nathan, Ty and Bryn Novotny; her sister, Sheila I. Walsh of Plano, Texas; and brother, T. Kevin Walsh of Richmond, Virginia. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Harold Edminson; and her sister-in-law, Patricia Walsh. 

Calling hours will take place 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the Higgins-Reardon Boardman-Canfield Chapel, 3701 Starr’s Centre Drive. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at St. Patrick Church, Youngstown. 

Eileen will be buried privately in Calvary Cemetery. 

Material contributions may be made in Eileen’s memory to the Ursuline Sisters Mission.