Mary Ellen Rich Borges, 84, of Carlisle, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2009. She was born on November 24, 1924 in Oshkosh, WI, daughter of the late John J. Weiske and Carrie L. Mansur. She was the widow of Donald W. Rich, Jr., her husband of 25 years; and is survived by her husband of 23 years, Dr. Wayne H. Borges.
Mary Ellen was a graduate of Ripon (WI) High School, (1942), and Ripon College, (1947); received a Masters in Counseling at Shippensburg Univ., in 1971; and completed all requirements for her doctoral degree from Temple Univ., with the exception of her dissertation. Her thesis became the basis for Cansurmount, a national training program to assist families of cancer. She was also a member of the Governor's Cancer Board in PA.
She first pursued an acting dream during three months of Summer stock in 1949, where she shared the stage with Paul Newman. Mary Ellen and Paul were each selected as the summer's top performers, earning support to live in New York. Paul chose a different path. Mary Ellen chose to teach, a gift she continued to share throughout her life. She first taught at the Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, WI. Married and living in Central PA, she became an English/Theatre teacher at Cumberland Valley High School. After receiving her Masters, she returned as a guidance counselor to start a peer-counseling program. Following the death of her husband, she worked at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and later at the Carlisle Hospital.
She was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Carlisle. During her 55 years with the church, she served on Vestry, as Senior Warden, and helped to found the Active Parenting Program, along with participating in and advocating for Children's Ministry programs in her church, as well as nationally through the Episcopal Church. Her spiritual life and reach were further enhanced by her active membership in The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross beginning in 1997. While often in the news about her teaching and counseling efforts, Mary Ellen was characteristically creative in promoting good health when she had her "Be Well" license plate prominently displayed in the Carlisle Sentinel after her car unexpectedly accelerated into the front window of a local paint store.
In addition to her husband, Donald, a brother, Ronald, and a sister, Gertrude, predeceased her. In addition to her husband, Dr. Borges, she is survived by son, Donald (wife, Gayle) Rich of Havertown, PA; her daughter, Toni (husband, Richard) Bonnette of Haddonfield, NJ; and son, John (wife, Heidi Zikorus) Rich of Spring, TX; 2 step-children, Kent Borges (wife, Stephanie DiCenzo) of Colorado Springs, CO; and Gretchen Borges (husband, Dan McGuire) of New York City, NY; 10 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; and 1 nephew.
Memorial services at 11 a.m., Wednesday in St. John's Episcopal Church, On the Square in Carlisle, with the Rev. Canon Mark Scheneman officiating. Friends will be received by the family from 10:30-11 a.m., Wednesday in the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 612, Carlisle, PA 17013 for the church's Children's Ministry.
Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, Carlisle, is in charge of the arrangements. Visit www.since1853.com to send condolences.
www.pennlive.com/obits January 18, 2009
Mary Ellen Rich Borges, 84, of Carlisle, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2009. She was born on November 24, 1924 in Oshkosh, WI, daughter of the late John J. Weiske and Carrie L. Mansur. She was the widow of Donald W. Rich, Jr., her husband of 25 years; and is survived by her husband of 23 years, Dr. Wayne H. Borges.
Mary Ellen was a graduate of Ripon (WI) High School, (1942), and Ripon College, (1947); received a Masters in Counseling at Shippensburg Univ., in 1971; and completed all requirements for her doctoral degree from Temple Univ., with the exception of her dissertation. Her thesis became the basis for Cansurmount, a national training program to assist families of cancer. She was also a member of the Governor's Cancer Board in PA.
She first pursued an acting dream during three months of Summer stock in 1949, where she shared the stage with Paul Newman. Mary Ellen and Paul were each selected as the summer's top performers, earning support to live in New York. Paul chose a different path. Mary Ellen chose to teach, a gift she continued to share throughout her life. She first taught at the Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, WI. Married and living in Central PA, she became an English/Theatre teacher at Cumberland Valley High School. After receiving her Masters, she returned as a guidance counselor to start a peer-counseling program. Following the death of her husband, she worked at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and later at the Carlisle Hospital.
She was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Carlisle. During her 55 years with the church, she served on Vestry, as Senior Warden, and helped to found the Active Parenting Program, along with participating in and advocating for Children's Ministry programs in her church, as well as nationally through the Episcopal Church. Her spiritual life and reach were further enhanced by her active membership in The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross beginning in 1997. While often in the news about her teaching and counseling efforts, Mary Ellen was characteristically creative in promoting good health when she had her "Be Well" license plate prominently displayed in the Carlisle Sentinel after her car unexpectedly accelerated into the front window of a local paint store.
In addition to her husband, Donald, a brother, Ronald, and a sister, Gertrude, predeceased her. In addition to her husband, Dr. Borges, she is survived by son, Donald (wife, Gayle) Rich of Havertown, PA; her daughter, Toni (husband, Richard) Bonnette of Haddonfield, NJ; and son, John (wife, Heidi Zikorus) Rich of Spring, TX; 2 step-children, Kent Borges (wife, Stephanie DiCenzo) of Colorado Springs, CO; and Gretchen Borges (husband, Dan McGuire) of New York City, NY; 10 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 3 nieces; and 1 nephew.
Memorial services at 11 a.m., Wednesday in St. John's Episcopal Church, On the Square in Carlisle, with the Rev. Canon Mark Scheneman officiating. Friends will be received by the family from 10:30-11 a.m., Wednesday in the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 612, Carlisle, PA 17013 for the church's Children's Ministry.
Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, Carlisle, is in charge of the arrangements. Visit www.since1853.com to send condolences.
www.pennlive.com/obits January 18, 2009
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