AUGUSTA - Ellen Griffin DeSerres died on Oct. 27, 2013 at Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. She was 97 years old. Ellen was born Feb. 5, 1916, in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, N.Y., one of three daughters of George Griffin and Margaret Fay. Her father was involved in Democratic politics in Westchester County, and that interest in liberal causes stayed with Ellen all her life.
Ellen lived in many places over the years, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia and Maine, but she was always a New Yorker. In 1939, she married William DeSerres, and they settled in Queens and New Rochelle, N.Y., where they raised two sons. Her husband worked for the New York Yankees and at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. He died suddenly at the age of 50 in 1959. Ellen never married again.
After her husband's death, Ellen returned to work as a legal secretary, a profession she worked at well into her 70s. She had great respect for the English language, never hesitating to correct faulty grammar. She told everyone, including her children, that she was 10 years younger than her years, and we believed her. It was only on her 90th birthday that she freely admitted her age. She loved to travel, and made lifelong friends when she travelled, from cruises to trains. She never drove a car, but mastered public transportation wherever she went. In her 80s, she traveled to the Himalayas and rode an elephant in Thailand.
Ellen valued her independence, and maintained her own apartment until she was 94. In her later years, she became the voice of liberalism as a regular letter writer to the newspaper in Culpepper, Va. She always enjoyed a good argument, and had no problem speaking her mind.
Ellen moved to Maine in 2010, and lived at the Inn at City Hall in Augusta. Her health declined this summer and fall. She received excellent care at Hillside Terrace in Hallowell, Graybirch Rehabilitation, and finally, Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. Her family thanks the staff at these facilities, as well as MaineGeneral Hospice, for their compassionate care.
Ellen is survived by her two sons, Kip DeSerres, of Hallowell, and George DeSerres of Culpepper, and their families; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at the family plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, N.Y. Kennebec Journal 10/30/2013)
Ellen lived in many places over the years, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia and Maine, but she was always a New Yorker. In 1939, she married William DeSerres, and they settled in Queens and New Rochelle, N.Y., where they raised two sons. Her husband worked for the New York Yankees and at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. He died suddenly at the age of 50 in 1959. Ellen never married again.
After her husband's death, Ellen returned to work as a legal secretary, a profession she worked at well into her 70s. She had great respect for the English language, never hesitating to correct faulty grammar. She told everyone, including her children, that she was 10 years younger than her years, and we believed her. It was only on her 90th birthday that she freely admitted her age. She loved to travel, and made lifelong friends when she travelled, from cruises to trains. She never drove a car, but mastered public transportation wherever she went. In her 80s, she traveled to the Himalayas and rode an elephant in Thailand.
Ellen valued her independence, and maintained her own apartment until she was 94. In her later years, she became the voice of liberalism as a regular letter writer to the newspaper in Culpepper, Va. She always enjoyed a good argument, and had no problem speaking her mind.
Ellen moved to Maine in 2010, and lived at the Inn at City Hall in Augusta. Her health declined this summer and fall. She received excellent care at Hillside Terrace in Hallowell, Graybirch Rehabilitation, and finally, Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. Her family thanks the staff at these facilities, as well as MaineGeneral Hospice, for their compassionate care.
Ellen is survived by her two sons, Kip DeSerres, of Hallowell, and George DeSerres of Culpepper, and their families; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at the family plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, N.Y. Kennebec Journal 10/30/2013)
AUGUSTA - Ellen Griffin DeSerres died on Oct. 27, 2013 at Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. She was 97 years old. Ellen was born Feb. 5, 1916, in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, N.Y., one of three daughters of George Griffin and Margaret Fay. Her father was involved in Democratic politics in Westchester County, and that interest in liberal causes stayed with Ellen all her life.
Ellen lived in many places over the years, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia and Maine, but she was always a New Yorker. In 1939, she married William DeSerres, and they settled in Queens and New Rochelle, N.Y., where they raised two sons. Her husband worked for the New York Yankees and at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. He died suddenly at the age of 50 in 1959. Ellen never married again.
After her husband's death, Ellen returned to work as a legal secretary, a profession she worked at well into her 70s. She had great respect for the English language, never hesitating to correct faulty grammar. She told everyone, including her children, that she was 10 years younger than her years, and we believed her. It was only on her 90th birthday that she freely admitted her age. She loved to travel, and made lifelong friends when she travelled, from cruises to trains. She never drove a car, but mastered public transportation wherever she went. In her 80s, she traveled to the Himalayas and rode an elephant in Thailand.
Ellen valued her independence, and maintained her own apartment until she was 94. In her later years, she became the voice of liberalism as a regular letter writer to the newspaper in Culpepper, Va. She always enjoyed a good argument, and had no problem speaking her mind.
Ellen moved to Maine in 2010, and lived at the Inn at City Hall in Augusta. Her health declined this summer and fall. She received excellent care at Hillside Terrace in Hallowell, Graybirch Rehabilitation, and finally, Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. Her family thanks the staff at these facilities, as well as MaineGeneral Hospice, for their compassionate care.
Ellen is survived by her two sons, Kip DeSerres, of Hallowell, and George DeSerres of Culpepper, and their families; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at the family plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, N.Y. Kennebec Journal 10/30/2013)
Ellen lived in many places over the years, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia and Maine, but she was always a New Yorker. In 1939, she married William DeSerres, and they settled in Queens and New Rochelle, N.Y., where they raised two sons. Her husband worked for the New York Yankees and at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. He died suddenly at the age of 50 in 1959. Ellen never married again.
After her husband's death, Ellen returned to work as a legal secretary, a profession she worked at well into her 70s. She had great respect for the English language, never hesitating to correct faulty grammar. She told everyone, including her children, that she was 10 years younger than her years, and we believed her. It was only on her 90th birthday that she freely admitted her age. She loved to travel, and made lifelong friends when she travelled, from cruises to trains. She never drove a car, but mastered public transportation wherever she went. In her 80s, she traveled to the Himalayas and rode an elephant in Thailand.
Ellen valued her independence, and maintained her own apartment until she was 94. In her later years, she became the voice of liberalism as a regular letter writer to the newspaper in Culpepper, Va. She always enjoyed a good argument, and had no problem speaking her mind.
Ellen moved to Maine in 2010, and lived at the Inn at City Hall in Augusta. Her health declined this summer and fall. She received excellent care at Hillside Terrace in Hallowell, Graybirch Rehabilitation, and finally, Glenridge Nursing Home in Augusta. Her family thanks the staff at these facilities, as well as MaineGeneral Hospice, for their compassionate care.
Ellen is survived by her two sons, Kip DeSerres, of Hallowell, and George DeSerres of Culpepper, and their families; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at the family plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, N.Y. Kennebec Journal 10/30/2013)
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