Obituary of Carol Jean McClain

Carol Jean (Pruski) McClain, age 75, of Darlington, Pa, passed away Monday, September 20, 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospice at Heritage Valley Beaver from pancreatic cancer. She was born May 12, 1947, in Rochester, PA, to Frank and Grace (Slater) Pruski, and was the oldest of three children. Carol was a lifelong resident of Beaver County, graduating from Monaca High School and the nurses training program at Sewickley Valley Hospital. She later graduated from Penn State Beaver with a B.S. and M.S. in nursing and administration. On July 3, 1969, she married her soulmate, Robert McClain, Jr., and they resided in Rochester for many years before moving to the retirement home they built together in Darlington in 2012. Carol followed her passions, working in nursing for many years, supervising the emergency room at Sewickley Hospital, managing the former MH&D Orthopedics, owning her own Medical consulting and lecturing company, performing direct sales with PartyLite and others, and for the last several years enjoyed working part time at Two Rivers Olive Oil Company in Beaver. Carol loved spending time with her grandchildren, turning the mundane into magic, from counting cows and horses, coloring Queen Anne’s lace, playing cards, and baking dozens and dozens of cookies. She treasured family time at their camp in Kennerdell, Pa, loving campfires, fireworks, and walks in the woods, and their annual family skiing and summer vacations. Carol was very active in the community, earning the Distinguished Toastmaster award serving as President of the Beaver Toastmasters Club #85, and volunteering for the Beaver Valley Office of Aging, and the Big Brother and Big Sisters of America. Carol was an advocate of healthy living and the power of a positive outlook, and will be remembered as a kind, loving, and generous heart. Carol is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Robert McClain, Jr.; her daughter, Amy Lyon-Galvin of Wadsworth, Oh; son, Robert (Kara) McClain of Ellwood City, Pa; grandchildren, Samuel (fiancé Ally) Lyon, Jessica Lyon, Jonathan McClain, Alli McClain, Margaret Galvin, and James Galvin; brother, Frank Pruski (Janice Hornbek); sister, Colleen (Frank) Lamberto; several nieces and a nephew; many cousins; a lifetime collection of friends; and her sweet Kalese. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace; stepfather, Norman Weimer; stepfather, John Griest; in-laws, Robert and Ruth (Kemp) McClain; and sister-in-law, Judy (McClain) McCann. The family would like to thank the staff at Heritage Valley Beaver, and especially those at Good Samaritan Hospice, for the care and compassion given to Carol, and to our family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Club Hope Foundation Inc., an organization established to help cancer patients and their families, 237 Sixth St., Ellwood City, Pa, 16117.