Elba Gladys Couch

"Life is about living, so go out and live it" was the advice given to Elba Gladys Couch by her oncologist at Mayo Clinic when she was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in August of 2013 and that's exactly what she did until the day she passed at home with her family on the afternoon of Tuesday March 20, 2018. 

Elba was born in San Nicolás, Santa Bárbara, Honduras to Ada Vallecillo and Israil Mejia. As she grew up she would come to live with her mom's sister Adela while being raised in a church convent with nuns. It was there she grew a desire to become a school teacher and went on to attend Universidad de Escuela Normal de Honduras. 

After several years teaching in Honduras, Elba Gladys would come to the United States in 1965 to attend her cousins wedding in New Orleans and it was there she met and fell in love with the best man, Joseph Couch. After dating just six months and with the aid of family members interpreting Spanish and English the two were engaged and married In 1966. Being that Joseph Couch was in the United States Navy, the pair would travel the world together. 

Before moving from New Orleans, the couple would give birth to their first child Joseph David in 1967 then head off to their next deployment in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1971, their daughter Diana Marie was born and shortly after they received orders to move to Atsugi, Japan. The family would spend four years in Japan before being stationed in San Diego, California. It was there that Elba returned to her teaching background as a bilingual teachers assistant at Otay Elementary School. 

Three years later, the couple would again move one last time during her husbands military service to Saint Louis, Missouri where he eventually retired after 20 years of service. Elba focused on being the best mom possible for her children during that time, she was actively involved in their lives as a stay at home mom. 

In 1980 her husband went to work for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Company and the couple accepted one last transfer to Titusville, FL in 1985. Her children now grown, Elba decided to return to work while they were in school. She spent her first couple years working for the Nevins Fruit Packing Plant in Titusville where she would come to meet some lifelong friends.  Not being satisfied and having a loving, nurturing nature she began babysitting and came to raise a couple infants in her home until their toddler years. Discovering her love for infants, she went on to work for Tutor Time Daycare down the street from her home for several years. Elba loved her babies and she would come home so satisfied after work. Her refrigerator still has photos of many of the babies she helped take care of now grown adults.  

Throughout the years Elba would return to her home in Honduras to visit and take care of her family. She was very proud of her country and her family. Upon her retirement, Elba focused her energies to gardening. Her green thumb was evident in her love for plants. Everyday you would find her working in her garden until recent months when she began to weaken. Elba was active in the community as a member of the Titusville Elks Lodge and Latin Club. Her love for others was evident in all she did, her love of God was displayed in her acts of kindness and her love of life was evident in her adventurous spirit, beautiful smile, contagious laughter and dancing feet.  

Elba is survived by her husband of 51 years Joseph Ulis Couch; her son Joseph David Couch, and her daughter Diana Marie Couch all of Titusville; and her granddaughter Jasmyn Smith of Nebraska. 

A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11am Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Teresa Catholic Church immediately followed by a celebration of life at North Brevard Senior Center. 

Elba has quite the extended family back in Honduras and has requested to be cremated and returned to Honduras. There,we will hold an additional mass and she will be laid atrest next to her mother Ada and aunt Adela. 

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donation to be made towards a scholarship to be named in Elba's honor. 

“ La vida hay que vivirla y gozarla a lo Maximo “ consejo dado por el Oncologo de la Clinica Mayo en Jacksonville a Elba Gladys Couch cuando fue diagnosticada conCancer de Ovario IV en ahistorical 2013 y eso fue exactamente lo que Elba Gladys Gozo hasta el dia mattes Marzo 20, 2018 que fallecio en su casa rode Ada de su familia.

Elba nacio en San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Honduras sud Padres fueron Ada Vallecillo y Israel Mejia fue criada Por su tia Adela hermana de su Mama estudio su primaria en una escuela Catholics mientras tanto su anhelo fue ser maestra y su sueno se convirtio en realidad ya que ingreso el el Colejio Normal de Senoritas en Tegucigalpa despues de haber ejercido como maestra Por varios anos en 1965 vino a Nuevo Orleans a la boda de su prima Elba adonde conocip al padrino de la boda Joseph Couch  se enamoraron y con la ayuda de su familia traduciendo las platicas de ambos de espanol a ingles se comprometieron y se casaron em 1966 sabiendo que Joseph Couch estaba en la Base Naval de USA viajaron juntos a diferentes países.

Antes de trasladarse de Nueva Orleans en 1967 tuvieron su primer hijo a quien nombraron Joseph David luego fueron trasladados a Honolulu, Hawaii. El 1971 tuvieron una niña a la cual nombraron Diana Marie después fueron trasladados a Atsugi, Japón adonde pasaron 4 años, al regresar a San Diego, California Elba ingresa a Otay Elementary School como asistente de maestra bilingüe.

Tres años después  fueron trasladados por última vez a San Louis, Miissoury y después que Joseph terminó su carrera militar de 20 años en (USA) en 1980 Joseph Fue a trabajar con la compañía McDonnell Douglas Aeronactica fueron trasladados a Titusville, Fl. en 1985 ya crecidos sus hijos Elba decidió regresar a trabajar con la compañía Nevins Fruit Packing Plant adonde conoció a un grupo de buenas amigas no estando satisfecha se dedicó a cuidar dos niñitos viendo el logro de su satisfacción decidió ir a cuidar niños a Tutor Time Day Care el cual estaba cerca de su casa Elba adoraba a sus niños por eso tenía las fotos de todos ellos en la puerta de la refrigeradora ya que ahora todos son adultos Elba siempre estuvo pendiente de su familia especialmente de su hermana Lizzete los viajes a Honduras les mostró cuán bondadosa y todo el amor que les tenía siempre se sintió orgullosa de ser Hondureña y de su famili. Una vez retirada se enfocó en su jardín una la veía siempre cuidando de su jardín hasta que se puso muy débil para continuar haciéndolo. Elba fue muy activa en la comunidad como miembro del Ells Club y el Club Latino Americano de Titusville adonde fue muy dedicada y querida por todos siempre la recordaremos con mucho cariño por su buen espíritu positivo, su sonrisa y su entusiasmo por bailar y no podemos olvidar lo buena madre y esposa que fue para con su familia. Elba’s sobrevivientes: su esposo Joseph Ulis Couch, 51 años, hijo Joseph David, hija Diana Marie todos de Titusville,Fl. Nieta Jasmyn Smith de Nebraska.

El día sábado Marzo 7, 2018 habrá una misa en la iglesia Santa Teresa a las 11: a.m. Después de la misa habrá “ Celebración de Vida” en Honor a Elba en el North Brevard Senior Center.

Debido a que Elba todavia tenía familia en Honduras pidio que sus cenizas fueran llevadas a Honduras y así ser enterradas con su Mamá Ada y su tía Adela habrá otra misa en Honduras. La familia pide que en vez de enviar flores se hagan donaciones para facilitar Becas ( Scholarshps ) en honor a Elba.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.