Ethel Mary Gell (born Seeley)
Personal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: May 4, 1930
Date of Death: November 20, 2019
Birth Place: Syracuse, NY
Death Place: Ithaca, NY
Ethel Mary Gell
1930 – 2019
Trumansburg/Ithaca – Ethel Mary Gell, formerly of Trumansburg, passed away peacefully in Kendal at Ithaca on November 20, 2019 at the age of 89. Ethel, daughter of the late Raymond and Gladys (House) Seeley, was born May 4, 1930, in Syracuse. A 1948 graduate of Eastwood High School, Ethel married Thomas Gell, the love of her life on July 31, 1949. Ethel was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was an active member of the Community including the Trumansburg United Methodist Church where she served as church secretary. Among other jobs, Ethel worked at Tompkin’s County Hospital, now Cayuga Medical, as a nurse’s aide and cook. As an aide, doctors often asked her to sit with patients at the end of life because of her comforting way with people. Ethel loved her African Violets, wildlife, the outdoors, making crafts, berry picking, and animals, with a special love for dogs, cats, and horses. She loved music, played the violin and Hawaiian guitar, and was a member of her high school orchestra. Ethel had an unusually positive outlook on life, always seeing the good in people and beauty in everyday things. Loved by everyone who knew her, she will be greatly missed. Ethel is survived by her husband of 70 years, Thomas Gell; three sons, David, James (Cathy), and Richard (Karen) Gell; three daughters, Ann, Susan, and Linda Gell; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Kenneth Seeley. In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by two brothers, Nelson and Robert Seeley; and a granddaughter, Monica. A Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Ethel Gell will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, December 14 at the Trumansburg United Methodist Church, 80 East Main St., Trumansburg. A private burial was held for the family at Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg. The family asks those who would like to make a contribution in Ethel’s memory to kindly consider the Trumansburg United Methodist Church, PO Box 628, Trumansburg, NY 14886.
Published in Ithaca Journal from November 27 to November 30, 2019
