Frances A. Ely

Frances Arlene Ely, age 89, died on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at Danbury Health Care Canter, Danbury. She was the wife of the late Junior L. Ely. Mrs. Ely was born in Bethel March 13, 1923, the daughter of the late Burton and LuLu Lee. A lifelong area resident, she attended local schools and graduated Danbury High School in 1941.

After working as a SPAR in the Coast Guard she married and started a family that included 47 foster children. She worked as a postal carrier and school bus driver before retiring to enjoy her grandchildren. The Ely family would like to offer their appreciation to the staff at Danbury Health Care, and especially to Angela, Judy, and Tara for the care and kindness extended to Arlene during her residency there.

Mrs. Ely was predeceased by two brothers: Robert A. Lee, and W. Burton Lee and one sister: Anna Vibbert. Mrs. Ely is survived by one sister: Helen Dickens of Denver, CO; one daughter: Eileen Mitchell and her husband, JR of Danbury; three sons: Jay Ely and his wife, Holly of Granby, CT, Dale Ely and his wife, Amy of Silver Spring, MD, Kevin Ely and his wife, Colleen of Youngsville, NC; eleven grandchildren: Jen Ely-Hluska, Cairn Ely, Nora Ely, Lisa Ely, Erin Ely, Joshua Mitchell, Anna Marie Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell, Robert Mitchell, Jacob Ely, and Dana Ely, two great-grandchildren: Danika Hluska, and Cormac Hluska, as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street Danbury on Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm where a funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions are requested to be made to the Bethel VNA, 70 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel, CT 06801. To offer condolences online or to light a candle of remembrance please visit www.thegreenfuneralhome.com.