Elizabeth (Veta) Aurelia Lupu Regule, of The Villages, FL formerly of Hermitage, PA, and Hubbard, OH fell asleep in the Lord on Monday evening, September 16, 2019.
Veta was born on February 5, 1938. Her parents, John and Elizabeth, immigrants from Romania, had settled in Hubbard, Ohio. There she attended school, participating in cheerleading and the band. She graduated from Hubbard High School with honors and was the Salutatorian for her class.
After high school, Elizabeth earned a degree in Education at Youngstown State University, a Master’s in Education at Slippery Rock College, and then did post-Master’s work at Westminster College, all with the highest honors. The primary focus of her studies was special education, a field to which she would devote her entire professional life.
Veta married John J. Regule, Esq. (Family Law) in 1960. The Regules lived in Hermitage (formerly, Hickory Township), PA where they would eventually raise four children. They attended Holy Cross (Romanian) Orthodox Church (ROEA). At Holy Cross, Veta put her education to good use, teaching, writing curricula and directing the Sunday School for many years. Later, she served on the Commission for Religious Education (CORE) for the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. Moreover, she would combine her love of special needs students with her expertise in education, penning a pioneering booklet to minister to them in a church setting, “A Snowflake Among Us: The Special Child in the Church School.” Veta was also a member of the national women’s group for the diocese (ARFORA).
Elizabeth had a long career as an educator working with special needs students. She was known as the “Star Lady” at Artman Elementary in Hermitage. There she would choose a student to be the “star” student and they would have a special “tea time” together in her office at lunch. They would dress up and use real utensils and china. She wanted them to know that they were important and could succeed. Veta was able to see what her students needed, but also believed they could shine like stars, given the chance.
Elizabeth also served as first president of Teachers of Special Education in Youngstown (OH), regional president for the Council for Exceptional Children (tri-county area PA), as well as the president of Mercer County Association for Learning Disabilities (ACLD) where she and her staff worked with over 200 children a year who needed a little extra help and support with their academics.
After Elizabeth retired from Hermitage schools and John as a lawyer and a Family Law Master (Judge) in Mercer County, they moved to The Villages in Florida. At the Villages, Veta continued to support needy students, volunteering at the local schools as a tutor. She also participated in the project for military service members abroad, Operation Shoe Box. In addition, she most recently began volunteering at the Veteran’s Outpatient Hospital in the Villages, caring for combat war veterans and their war injuries, both visible and invisible. She was constantly giving of herself to others, especially to those in need. Moreover, she and John often volunteered as ushers for various shows at the theaters in the Villages. As with all she met, Veta especially loved greeting and extending a warm welcome to the patrons.
While in Florida, Veta and John attended St. Mark the Evangelist Greek Orthodox Church in Bellevue.
Veta is survived by her husband of 59 years, John J. Regule, her daughters Teva Regule, Ph.D. (Theology) (Boston) and Chaplain Christina Regule, DMinn. (Belgium, US Army), and sons John D. (Diane)Regule, MBA (Pittsburgh) and David (Tami) Regule, MD (Ohio), and her grandchildren Hope, Hailey, Grant (Pittsburgh) and Jacob, Maya, Lucas, and Ava (Ohio).
She is predeceased by her parents, her brother John Lupu and sister Anne (Lupu) Hilsabeck and nephews, SGT John W. Lupu and Jim Hilsabeck.
Funeral arrangements:
Florida:
- Open calling hours: Friday, 9/20, 5-7 pm (The Regule home, 17565 SE 90th, Clemson Circle (Springdale), The Villages)
- Trisagion Prayers of Mercy followed by luncheon: Saturday, 9/21, 11 am (St. Marks Greek Orthodox Church, 9926 SE 36th Ave/CR 467, Belleview, FL 34420)
Pennsylvania:
- Calling Hours and Funeral: Holy Cross Orthodox Church, 950 Maple Dr, Hermitage, PA 16148 (Calling Hours – Fri, 9/27: 5-7 pm; Funeral – Sat. 9/28: 11 am)
- Burial: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood City, PA following funeral
- Local arrangements are entrusted to the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., Ellwood City
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
- The Child Development Center at the Buhl Club, 28 Pine St., Sharon, PA 16146
- A needy school of your choice (e.g. Santos Elementary School, 9600 US-441, Belleview, FL 34420)
- St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church (GOA), 9926 SE 36th Ave/CR 467, Belleview, FL 34420
- Holy Cross Orthodox Church (ROEA), 950 Maple Dr., Hermitage, PA 16148
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