She was a proud deaf woman. She was the wife of Boleslov Czelusniak (deceased). Special friend of Jerry Knaus (deceased). Beloved mother of Buddy (deceased), Joe, Mary Anne Finnerty (George deceased), and Angela Gecewich (Rich deceased). Grandmother of Eric Mirosavich (Ann), Nikki Judson (Tommy), Katie Finnerty (Brian Kocsis), Dan Czelusniak, Rose Marten (Klaus), Micaela Stewart (Jake), and Chelsea Finnerty. Great Grandmother of 11. Preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Catherine Kenneley, brothers Mike (Amy), and James Harold.
Mary Ellen devoted her life to St. Augustine Church and bringing people to the Catholic faith. She was honored by the Irish American Archives Society Walks of Life for her work with the deaf. She was the first deaf pastoral worker for Catholic Charities in the United States.
Mary Ellen was a lifelong member of the International Catholic Deaf Association, member of the Northeast Ohio Society for the Deaf and St. Augustine deaf seniors. She was the president of Mary’s Rosary Guild for many years.
She also took an active role in parish Council, Cluster and Deanery meetings. Mary Ellen most enjoyed teaching young people about the Catholic faith, volunteering and family gatherings. She will be dearly missed.
Our family would like to thank the caregivers at St. Augustine Manor for the love and care they showed out mother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 11AM at St. Augustine Church, 2486 W14th St., Cleveland. Committal services will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brook Park.
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