Ellen Cohen, 83, of Rocky Hill, CT passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Known affectionately as Auntie to her three nieces whom she loved as her own and as Bubba to her six grandnieces and grandnephews, Ellen was a dedicated and loving aunt, sister, friend and alter kaker to so many.
She grew up in West Hartford, CT and was a proud graduate of Conard High School (‘59.) Ellen will be remembered for her love of travel, zest for life and gift of gab. From Westside Market to The Crown to Curves, Ellen made friends everywhere she went.
That outgoing personality served her well throughout her career. After graduating from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, she became a kindergarten teacher in New Rochelle and Hartford. She then took on NYC where she was a Production Manager at “Billboard Magazine” and “Floor Covering Weekly.”
Ellen later joined The Hartford Courant’s special advertising sections “Feminine Topics” and “Newspapers in Education” where she made lifelong friends. She then spent a decade working at Maple View Manor before returning to her first love – the classroom – where she taught preschoolers up to eighth graders.
Ellen loved to bake and was one of the toughest cookies you’d ever meet. She was feisty, frank, fun, funny and fiercely loyal. She never met a dog, beach or Barbra Streisand song she didn’t love.
Ellen is predeceased by her parents, Ada and David Cohen. She is survived by her younger sister, Margie Gelfenbien, and her brother-in-law, Roger Gelfenbien, of Wethersfield, CT. She leaves behind three nieces, Robin Gelfenbien and her partner, Ken Brady, of NYC/Sherman, Jill Gelfenbien and her wife, Tanya Adorno, of Wethersfield, and Lori Chabot and her husband, Brian, of Littleton, MA and six grandnieces and grandnephews Jenna, Morgan, James, Ben, Kevin and Teagan.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, December 31st at 10:30 am at Weinstein Mortuary in Hartford. Interment will follow at Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery in Hartford. The family will receive friends at Weinstein Mortuary on Tuesday from 9:45-10:15 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s memory may be made to the National Park Foundation, The Humane Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
