Mary Ellen Connor Hart

Wellsville, NY - Mary Ellen Connor Hart of 141 East State Street, passed peacefully away on August 15, 2009, surrounded by her loving family. Mary Ellen was born in Andover, NY on October 25, 1932, the daughter of John A. and Monica R. (Padden) Connor; both have preceded her in death. She was a 1950 graduate of Andover Central School and a 1953 graduate of the St. James Mercy Hospital, School of Nursing.

On January 22, 1955, she married Gerald C. Hart at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover, NY. Together they had ten children: Ellen (Robert) Wartella, of Oneida, NY; Kathleen (Patrick) Godfrey, of Woodbridge, VA; Thomas (Cindy Ewell) Hart of State College, PA; Colin (Theresa Dempsey) Hart of Fredonia, NY; Nora (Craig) Burdick; Jerome (Nancy Anderson) Hart; Gabrielle (Rich) Ewell; and Joseph (Christy Forsberg) Hart, all of Wellsville, NY; Maggie (Mark) Reuter of Superior, CO; and Jonathan (Dawn Hennessey) Hart of Grand Island, NY.

Mary Ellen was employed as a Register Nurse at Jones Memorial Hospital and Turbodine. She was a private duty nurse for many years too. She continued her education by completing several continuing education courses. In addition to her nursing career, she earned a real estate license. She was a volunteer for the Domestic Violence Task Force, Office of the Aging, and the Belfast, Ireland Summer Relief Program and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Mary Ellen was a voracious reader and a life-long learner. She enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, raising Irish setters, gardening and spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving in addition to Gerald and her children are: thirty-five grandchildren, three brothers: John (Maurice) Connor; Michael (Melinda) Connor, both of California, James (Marlene) Connor of Wellsville; two sisters-in-law: Jean (Gerald) Hanks of Almond, NY; Judy (James) Brush of Wellsville; one brother-in-law, Clinton (the late Esther Hart) Adams, several nieces, nephews and cousins and life-long friends: Aquinas McCormick, Shirley Lyon-Bentley, and Mary Ann Nicoloff. She loved them all dearly.

Friends are invited to call on Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser and Sons Funeral Home, 34 West State Street, Wellsville, NY. A prayer service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 10:30 am in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Wellsville, with Monsignor Vincent Becker as Celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to the Immaculate Conception School, 24 Maple Avenue, Wellsville, NY 14895. …May God hold her in the palm of His hand.