Edna May Back

Back, Edna May (age 91), of Riverside, Ohio passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2021, at home after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on December 31, 1929, to the late Neill Conwell Leitch and Anna Leitch (née Depew), but she was raised by John J. and Amanda B. Farrell and graduated from Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey in 1947. She graduated from All Soul's Hospital School of Nursing in Morristown, New Jersey in 1950, becoming a registered nurse. Soon after, Edna married Kenneth Charles Back and they began raising a family, something she felt was her greatest accomplishment.

Edna is survived by her seven children and spouses: Sandra Jean Spicer, Jo Ann (Lonny) Danchik, Vanessa Lynn Back, David Charles (Mary Ann) Back, Brian Jon (Sue) Back, Andrew Karl (Hope) Back, and Mark Douglas Back. To many of her children's friends she was known as "Mumsy". Andrew (and then Hope) lived with and enabled Edna to stay in her home during her battle with Alzheimer's. Edna also is survived by ten grandchildren and their spouses: Matthew Spicer, Amanda (Peter) Venero, Christopher (Corine) Danchik, Amy (Marques) Stewart, Adam (Anna) Jaffe Back, Evan Back, Ezekiel Back, Riley Back, Charles Back and Timothy Back. She had eight great-grandchildren: Alexander and Evelyn Venero; Hazel, Isabelle and Penny Danchik; Hope and Micah Stewart; and Leo Jaffe Back. Edna used her retirement years spending time with her family all over the country and nurturing her relationships with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Edna loved well and is well loved by a host of other family members and myriad friends. Edna was married to Kenneth for 30 years. They divorced in 1980 and she never remarried.

Edna was proud of being a nurse and worked as a registered nurse for more than 50 years. She practiced nursing in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Indiana and Ohio. In Oklahoma and Indiana, she helped create the first emergency rooms. She lived in the Dayton area since 1960 and worked as a school nurse for Mad River Township Schools, in the office of Dr. Gary Dunlap, and as a psychiatric nurse at both Dartmouth Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Beavercreek Chapel, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, Ohio 45432, followed by a funeral service at 5:00 pm.

"The State of Ohio is under a mandatory mask order and has required that face masks be worn in all public places."

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