Ellen Ferency, Teacher at Kinawa Middle School
On the 14th of April, 2024, Ellen Jane (Dwyer) Ferency escaped her mortal coil shortly after daybreak on her own terms at home and rejoiced with her loved ones greeting her on the "otherside." As a 97-year-old who lived her life full, one can only imagine how many folks she'd have in Heaven celebrating her home-going... As a woman of many hats, Ellen was more than a treasured wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend, mentor, and teacher... she was also an artist, a maker, a patron, a volunteer, an activist, an environmentalist, an observer, an archiver of history, and active participant in whatever she had set her mind out to do. Much like the cast-off bits and bobs she collected to create her quilts, mosaics, glasswork, piecework laces, and countless other "makerings," she collected an assortment of delightful and wonderful people in her world too. As a Mathematics and Science Teacher (Master's degree from Wayne State and Teacher at Kinawa Middle School in Okemos), every classroom of children she taught felt as if they were an extension of her family, every guest in her home had a welcomed place at the table, and every "cast-off-still-good" or "broken-but-could-be-mended" soul had value... to list all the lives she touched in some way would require more ink.
Ellen Jane (Dwyer) Ferency is predeceased by: Her adoring husband, cohort, and friend, Zolton Anton Ferency, Her three sons Michael, Mark, and Eric Ferency, Her siblings Patricia, Karen, and Jack, Her Parents and In-Laws, and countless cousins, nephews, and nieces.
She is survived by her Daughter-in-law Linda Maloney (m. Michael Ferency), her Grandchildren Sarah (Ferency) Hodsdon (m. Timothy Hodsdon), Stephanie Quin, Matthew Ferency (m. Jennifer Danneman), Megan Ludwig (m. Steve Ludwig) and Peter Ferency (m. Kendal Krause), her Great-Grandchildren Benjamin, Noah, Abigael Hodsdon, Alexander, McKenna, Xia Ferency, Rian Ferency, Logan, Ashlie, Connor Alfaro and cobbled together extended family and countless friends.
Please join us in celebrating Ellen's incredible life and accomplishments Saturday May 18th, from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home 205 E Middle St., Williamston, Michigan.
Ellen's "can-do" grit and determination infused her every action... although a noun in life, she lived as a verb and encouraged each and every person she came into contact with to so as well... In lieu of flowers, please consider spending time planting a tree or two in her memory or perhaps contributing your time and efforts to a favorite local cause. Ellen had a tremendous soft spot in her heart for the lovely folks making and doing incredible things at East Lansing Hannah Community Center... donating to them or even taking a class to acquire a new skill would have brought her great joy.
Posted online on May 09, 2024
Published in Lansing State Journal