Mary Louise Ellis, 79; led Irish women's organization

Mary Louise Bernard Ellis, 79, of Mount Ephraim, a member since the 1990s of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, a charitable organization, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit of Kennedy Health System in Stratford following a stroke.

Born in Gloucester City, Mrs. Ellis graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in 1951, where she was a member of the glee club.

She then worked as a part-time clerk for the post office in Gloucester Heights, where her mother was the postmistress, daughter Maureen Gorlewski said.

In the 1960s, she was an accountant and cashier for an F.W. Woolworth Co. store in Audubon. She retired in the 1990s as an agent for Gloucester Travel & Cruise in Gloucester City.

Mrs. Ellis was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a choir member at St. Mary's Church in Gloucester City, her daughter said.

She was a member of the Saints and Singers of St. Mary's, for whose St. Patrick's Day show she baked cakes. From 1970 to 1974, she was a member of the Bowlerettes, a local bowling team.

Besides her daughter, Mrs. Ellis is survived by sons Howard, Michael, and James; two sisters; 16 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Her husband of 55 years, Howard, died in 2010.

A viewing was set from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the McCann-Healey Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, N.J. 08030, before an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Interment is to be at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown.

Donations and condolences may be made to the family through the funeral home by mail or at www.mccannhealey.com.