Obituary of Mary Ellen Brandis

Mary Ellen Brandis, 88, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the Martin Luther Nursing Home. She was born April 24, 1921 in Ithaca, the daughter of William and Anna Atwater Pearson. Mary Ellen graduated from Cornell University, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She married Fay W. Brandis on May 25, 1942. The couple lived in various places, living in Ridgefield, CT, moving to Clinton in 1979 and then to New Hartford. Mary Ellen worked at IBM and then as a dietician at Sarah Lawrence College. She was a past member of Stone Presbyterian Church, Skenandoa Golf Club and volunteered at the Martin Luther Nursing Home for many years. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Fay of New Hartford; two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Mary Brandis of Recida, CA and Gordon and Donna Brandis of Raleigh, NC; two grandchildren, Veronica and Chad; her sister Elizabeth Pearson of MN; and her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson, Jonathan who died November 12, 2003 and her brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Jean Pearson. A memorial service will be held at 11am Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Chapel of Our Saviour at the Lutheran Home. There will be no public calling hours and a private burial will be held for the family at Sunset Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc, Clinton. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer's Assoc. of CNY, 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204 or Stone Presbyterian Church, PO Box 33, Clinton, NY 13323.