Eleanore “Ellie” Tarcha, 80 of Butler passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. She was born in Natrona Heights on October 27, 1942 to the late Raymond and Helen (Bragiel) Davidowski. After graduating from Tarentum High School, she received her Bachelor’s Degree from California State Teacher’s College and then her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Slippery Rock University. Early on, she taught special education in Allegheny County schools and was a substitute teacher for Butler and South Butler area schools before transitioning to a full-time devoted mom, caring for her family. Later, she was employed by Lutheran Services Society as a senior center manager for several years. She retired from Butler County after having served as a case worker for the Children and Youth Agency and Area Agency in Aging, and as a Mental Retardation Waiver Coordinator for MH, MR, D&A administrative offices.
Ellie worked at many events at St. John’s the Baptist and was a member of the Ladies Guild. Ellie volunteered for 10 years at Benbrook Outpatient Surgery Center alongside her husband Jerry. She was proud of her Penn State Master Gardener credentials and volunteered her time to share gardening knowledge. Most recently she was knitting “Caps for Kids”. Her volunteer work and service work reached so far as to even be a donor for CORE.
Ellie was the proud mother of Bobbi (Brady Porter) Diller, Joe Mikolas, Sharon (Scott Schulz) Schwartz, and Matt Mikolas; grandmother of Lori, Kev, and Steven; sister of Ray Davidowski, Trish Abrams, Tom Davidowski, Jerry (Sandy) Davidowski, and Ken (Chris) Davidowski. She is also survived by her sister in law Mary Williamson; her aunt Irene Simko; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jerry Tarcha, her sister in laws Debbie and Lorinda Davidowski, and her brother in law Joe Abrams.
Family and friends will be received on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 12-2 PM in the SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 NEW CASTLE RD. BUTLER, PA 16001, WWW.SPENCERDGEIBEL.COM. A Parastas Service will immediately follow in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to CORE.org.