Rose Anna Cavalier, 93, of Smithers passed away June 20. She was born Rosina Ana Dalporto on April 5, 1917 in Boomer, the eldest child of the late Andrew and Georgina Dalporto. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, John, her sister, Mafalda Paterno, and her brother, Lido Dalporto. She was a life-long member of St. Anthony Shrine and Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish. Surviving Anna are her three sons and their families: John Frederick (Fred) Cavalier, and his wife Anne of Smithers; Tom Cavalier and his wife Connie of State College, PA; and David Cavalier and his wife Jean of Montgomery, WV. Anna was known to the family as “Granny” and she leaves five grandchildren: Brian Cavalier and his wife Lori of Pittsburgh, PA; Ian Cavalier of Corvallis, OR; Sierra Cavalier of Oskaloosa, IA; Adam Cavalier of Huntington, WV; and Marie Cavalier of Montgomery, WV. Granny is also survived by one great-granddaughter Emma Cavalier-Sams of Oskaloosa, IA. Anna was first and always a loving wife and mother. She was also a registered nurse, having graduated from the St. Francis School of Nursing. While her fiancé, John, served in World War II in Europe, Anna served her country here at home as a nurse at Welch Community Hospital and then she directed the infirmary at Union Carbide in South Charleston, WV. After the war, she and John were married on December 26, 1945, and lived and raised their sons in Smithers. Anna served as the secretary at Oakland School where John served as the principal. Many generations of former Oakland students remember that whether it was for a skinned knee, forgotten lunch money, or a kind word, they went to Mrs. Cavalier for help and comfort. She brought the same care and attention to her duties later as the secretary of Montgomery Middle School, from which she retired in 1985 to care for her aging mother. She and John were inseparable and shared in all their endeavors. As they reared their children and they built their home, they worked side by side. When he served as Smithers’ City Recorder, she served as his volunteer secretary. While he wrote the books Smithers, WV and Panorama of Fayette County, she served as typist, editor, and constant cheerleader. To each role she served in the family, daughter, wife, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great grandmother, she brought boundless love and affection. Although she suffered from the effects of some form of Alzheimer’s Disease, Anna was able to remain at her home for nearly eight years and at Montgomery General Hospital Second Floor Elderly Care nursing facility for four more because of the kindness and assistance of many members of the community. The family wishes to publicly express sincere gratitude to long time care giver, Wendy Carpenter, for her many acts of kindness to Anna over the years when the family was able to keep her home. Sincere appreciation is also extended to Dr. Sammar Atassi and the nurses and staff at Montgomery General Hospital, second and third floors, for the years of attentive and professional care. The family wishes to also thank Frs. Paul Wharton and John Rice, Deacon John Divita, and Eucharistic Minister Sam Bria of the St. Anthony Shrine and Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish for their prayers and visits to the home and the hospital. The family extends appreciation for the many kindnesses of long time neighbors, Don and Judy Winall and Gordon and Rena Mitchell. Mass of Christian Burial for Anna will be held 11:00am Wednesday June 23, 2010 at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Boomer, with Father John Rice as Celebrant. Burial will following at Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens in Glasgow. Friends may call 1 hour prior to Mass at the church. O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Anna’s honor to the Cavalier scholarship fund, established to provide educational opportunities to children in West Virginia. Donations can be made to the Cavalier-Nichols Scholarship Fund, at The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, 900 Lee Street East Charleston, WV 25301-1761, (304) 346-3620, attention Susan Hoover. Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com