Mary Ellen O'Donnell

A celebration of life for Mary Ellen O'Donnell will take place on Sunday, January 15 at 1:00pm at the

Sanctuary Church, 1400 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Mary Ellen was born in Wisconsin and raised in Palmyra where she participated in a variety of

activities while growing up. She was a member of the church choir, the methodist youth fellowship, the Blue Spring Lake Ski Club and a cheerleader at Palmyra High School from where she graduated in 1967. She was also an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

After graduating from high school, Mary Ellen went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. While attending college, she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and W-ette for the Warhawk football games. She graduated with a B.A. in 1971.

She moved with her family to Fort Lauderdale in 1973, where she went to work as a sales associate for Arvida Corporation for over 20 years. She was a leading sales person for Boca West and Broken Sound. Upon arriving in Fort Lauderdale, she also became a member and a deacon at Second Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale (The Sanctuary), where she attended until her death.

Mary Ellen was active in Republican politics in Broward County and nationwide. As a member of the Broward County Republican Executive committee, she was the publicity chairman for the Broward County Reagan campaign. She was also a member of the program planning committee for the Republican National Convention in 1980. That same year, she was selected by the national chairman of the Young Republicans as one of six to represent the United States of America on an American Youth Council study tour of the Italian government and NATO.

In addition to her political adventures, Mary Ellen was named Florida's Outstanding Young Woman of 1982. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and an active member of the Broward County chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

She lovingly helped her mother take care of her handicapped brother, Rod, for much of her life She was also a devoted fan of her niece and nephew's athletic endeavors and an animal lover who adopted many pets throughout her life as well.

Mary Ellen met her husband, Ed, at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club. They were married there on February 21, 1992 and resided in Palm Springs where they made many friends on the golf course. They returned to Fort Lauderdale in December of 1992 and built many more friendships at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club, where Ed was the Commodore.

Mary Ellen was a kind and generous person, always lending a hand or a compliment to make someone's day a little better. She always had a smile on her face that would brighten any room that she walked into. She was always the life of the party and she will be greatly missed by her friends and loved ones.

Mary Ellen is pre-deceased by her parents, Robert and Dorothy Stacey and her brother Rodney Reese. She is survived by her husband, Edmond O'Donnell, sister, Paula Farland (Jack), cousin Joan Witter (Steve), niece, Kathryn Reeber (Lonny and their children Josh and Courtney), nephew, John Farland (Jessica) and several cousins and extended family.

A memorial service will be held at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale in mid January. More information will be provided at a later date.

It can be a great comfort to a grieving person or family to hear that others thought highly of their loved one, too. If you knew and admired Mary Ellen, be sure to let the family know by writing a few words in the "Memory" section of her obituary on the Kraeer - Fairchild Funeral Home website. www.KraeerFairchild.com