Ellen Kathleen Show

Ellen Kathleen Show, age 88, of Pittsburgh, PA, formerly of White Oak, PA, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. She was born in McKeesport, PA, on August 6, 1937, and was the daughter of the late John M. and Elizabeth Young Vasey. She was the wife of the late Francis Glenn Show, who passed away on May 9, 2024. Ellen attended St. Pius Grade School, McKeesport Area High School, McKeesport Hospital School of Nursing, Duquesne University School of Nursing and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

Ellen is survived by her step-children, Beth (Kevin) Kroutch of Hummelstown, PA; and Ned (Erika) Show of Mt. Lebanon, PA; grandchildren, Nicholas (Sydney) Kroutch; Lauren Kroutch; Ethan Show; and Vivienne Show; great grandchildren Carter and TJ; nieces and nephews, Monica Vasey; Andrew (Elizabeth) Vasey, II; Brian Vasey; Ellen (Keith) Briener; Tina (Joel) Freehan; and her beloved great-nieces and great-nephews, Alyssa; Erica; Jenny; Amanda; JJ; Andrew, III; and Juliet.

In addition to her parents and husband, Ellen is preceded in death by her brother, Andrew Vasey.

Ellen started her career as a staff nurse in the emergency room of McKeesport Hospital and then was a nurse at McKeesport Area High School. She returned to McKeesport hospital in 1966, and attended a government funded program at Cornell Medical Center in New York. She learned the new concept in treatment of coronary heart disease and the development of a specialized department. Ellen was required by the program to open the first Coronary Care Unit in the region. The program was established in 1967 at McKeesport Hospital and was for training other hospitals to develop their programs. She went on to open the first Psychiatric Unit at McKeesport Hospital as well as opening the first Emergency Room nurse triage system in the country. In 1971, she set up the first multidisciplinary primary care center located in Wilmerding, PA, and it was in two trailers. After leaving McKeesport Hospital she worked on another federally funded program at the University of Pittsburgh. She became the Director of Nursing and the government set the mission to work on a program for measuring the quality of care in health care. Using this industrial model, she modified and adjusted it to set up the first Quality Assurance Program for health care. Her work received the attention of the hospital accrediting unit and this became a requirement for hospital reimbursement. When the funding for the program was discontinued, Ellen set up a consulting firm by the name of Professional Resource Associates. She traveled the country teaching how to set up Quality Assurance Programs, speaking at conventions, hospitals, hotels, universities and fire halls.

In 1977, Ellen joined Medicon Inc., a hospital strategic planning firm as a partner working with hospitals around the country addressing nursing issues and strategic planning. Missing hospital work, she became the Assistant Executive Director at Westmoreland Hospital and after six years she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to serve as a Corporate V.P. of Nursing and Education this covered over six facilities of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Health System. After retiring, Ellen returned to White Oak and continued consulting and volunteering at the McKeesport Heritage and History Center, and set up the first volunteer program. She later joined the volunteer program at the John Heinz History and Sports Museum where she served as an ambassador, docent, affiliate liaison where she worked events.

Ellen previously Served on the Board of Directors of the McKeesport Little Theater in its’ early days. While there, she along with another member, started the Little Theater Junior Group. She is a past president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses, a member of the McKeesport Hospital School of Nursing Alumni, board member of district #6 of the PA Nurses Association, and the National Nurses Assoc., member of Duquesne University School of Nursing Alumni, and was a charter member of the Epsilon Phi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society, a past member of the Duquesne Society, a board member and past President of the McKeesport College Club, a board member of the former LaRosa Boys and Girls Club, and an editor and author for nursing journals and local history.

Ellen was the recipient of the 1986 Hospital Association of PA “Improvement of Patient Care” award, recipient of the 2011 National Association of Women in Business “Make the Connection Award” for her volunteer work at the Heinz History Center, and was the inducted into the McKeesport High School Hall of Fame for her leadership in health care and community service.

Family and friends are invited to gather and honor Ellen’s memory at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177) on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from Noon until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Thomas J. Burke officiating.

To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com