D. Kaleva Elva

Elva Kaleva 93, a resident of Crouse Community Center in Morrisville, NY died December 21, 2015.

She was born August 1, 1922 in Corning, NY, the fifth daughter, of Frederick L. and Elva (Merritt) Raymond. Elva graduated from Corning Northside High School in 1940. She worked at Corning Glass until 1944 when she joined the Women❜s Army Corps where she served as a medical technician until she was honorably discharged in 1945. Elva lived in Cortland, NY for many years and was employed as a shipping clerk at Cortland Corset Company. At the age of 56 she enrolled at Tompkins Cortland Community College and graduated cum laude with an AA degree. She then worked as an area supervisor for Green Thumb N.Y. until her retirement. She lived in Bath, NY from 1978 until 2010 and was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church. Elva lived at Longview in Ithaca, NY and then in Morrisville, NY until her passing. She loved to read and she loved politics. She was not shy about animatedly sharing her opinions on any variety of topics. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren, Jennifer, Christy, John and Matthew.

Elva is survived by two daughters, Juanita Cobler of Cortland, NY and Ellen (David) Vanderwilt of Palo Alto, CA, one sister, Louise Morton of Ithaca, NY, four grandchildren, three great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Kaleva: sisters, Margaret Carey, Helen Raymond and Marian Tuttle and son-in-law, R.Bruce Cobler.

A memorial service will be held at Homer Avenue Methodist Church in Cortland, NY on Saturday January 2, 2016 at 11:00am, followed by a private burial at Greensprings Cemetery in Newfield, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dormann Library, 101 W. Morris St. Bath, NY 14810 or to a charity of your choice.

The family offers special thanks for the compassionate and loving care Elva received at Crouse Community Center.