Donna Aylene Kraus, age 84, resident of 107 Pleasant Street, Cambridge Springs, PA since 1954 died Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA as a result of an accidental fall occurring in her home the day before. Born on November 23, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, Donna was a daughter of the late Donald L. Shorts and Leona Brant Shorts.
Kraus, Donna AyleneDonna graduated from Saegertown High School with the Class of 1942 and attended Edinboro Business College for two years. Following her schooling she worked at American Viscose in Meadville where she met her future husband, Frank N. Kraus, and continued to work there until they were married on May 24, 1952. She became the mother of three sons and two daughters and while maintaining a home, worked at different outside jobs including a sales clerk at the Ben Franklin Store, as a secretary at SPA Construction, and as a clerk at Alliance College, all located in Cambridge Springs.
As a member of Gravel Run Presbyterian Church in Woodcock, she was active there serving as an Elder, as a member of the Missionary Society, and as their pianist for many years. She also was a former member of the San Rosario Auxiliary in Cambridge Springs. Her family best describes her as a mother extraordinaire who was always there for each one of them, very devoted, and always had each of their personal interests at heart. Her special cooking will be missed.
Preceding Donna in death in addition to her parents was an infant daughter, Constance. Family surviving her in addition to her husband, Frank, of 57 years include two daughters – Karen Harrington and her husband, John; Joyce Nowakowski and her husband, Jerry of Waterford; three sons – Nick Kraus and his wife, Gail of McKean; Don Kraus and his wife, Jeanann of Erie; and Carl Kraus and his wife, Millie of New Castle; fourteen grandchildren – Emily Bartlett, Joel Kraus, Angela Kraus, Melody Baron, Brenda Gilliland, Bradley Kraus, Adrianne Morton, Ryan Kraus, Andrea Kovshak-Mailinowski, Jaimie Travis, Kyle Nowakowski, Kelsey Nowakowski, Jessica Kraus, and Jenna Kraus. In addition four great grandchildren survive -Jason Malinowski, Anna Malinowski, Cameron Gilliland, and Owen Kraus; a brother – Ronald Shorts of Blooming Valley and a sister – Annette Bell and her husband, Robert of Olean, NY.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 and on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Gravel Run Presbyterian Church, Route # 86, in Woodcockboro. Funeral services will be held there Saturday morning at 11:00 with Reverend Donald Gordon, pastor of the Church, officiating. Interment will be in St. James Cemetery, Crossingville. Memorials may be made to the Gravel Run Presbyterian Church or Cambridge Area Volunteer Ambulance Service, 202 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs, PA 16403.