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Ellen Margaret Van Auken, age 88, died Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the Judson Park Retirement Community in Cleveland Heights, OH.
Ellen was born on September 25, 1929 in Utica, NY to the late Ernest A. Sherman and Margaret L. McMahon Sherman. She graduated from New Hartford High School. In 1948 Ellen married Charles Willard Van Auken of New Hartford, NY. After her husband Charles graduated from Syracuse University in 1950, the couple moved to Elyria, OH where they resided for 23 years before moving to Bryan, Ohio in 1973.
Ellen worked in retail for over 30 years at The Style Center in Elyria and at Uhlmans’, Stage, and Peebles Department Stores in Bryan. Ellen was active in many civic and service organizations in Bryan. She was a charter member of the Lioness Club and served as President, Vice President, and chairwoman of many committees. Ellen was a member of A.R.T.S., an artistic organization that worked with the art department at Bryan High School. She was a member of the federated, Taine Club and Orchard Hills Country Club where she enjoyed golfing and socializing. Ellen was a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for over 35 years. For many years, she volunteered at Outreach of Bryan Area Inc. and at the Bryan Community Hospital.
Ellen is survived by her five loving children, Katherine J. (Edward) Kvet of Naples, FL; Gertrude V. (Paul) Young of Lancaster, OH; Mark H. (Sharon) Van Auken of Indianapolis, IN; Martha V. (Dennis) Rupp of Mayfield Heights, OH; and Caroline F. (Mitchell) Borrow of Shaker Heights, OH; eight grandchildren, Katherine (Young) Steele, Mary Ellen (Young) Rahn, Jonathan Rupp, Cynthia Rupp, Maria Van Auken, Nicholas Van Auken, Emma Borrow, Jack Borrow; four great-grandchildren Charles and Jonathan Steele and Nora and Evan Rahn; and sister-in-law Adlyn Sherman. Ellen was preceded in death by husband, Charles W. Van Auken, in 1981 and brother, William L. Sherman of Delray Beach, FL, in 2017.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on August 18, 2018, at 10:30 am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 610 Portland Street, Bryan, OH. The family will welcome friends beginning at 9:30am at the church. Arrangements are under the care of Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank all caregivers at the Judson Park Retirement Community for their unwavering dedication and compassion they shared with Ellen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, 610 Portland Street, Bryan, OH 43506, Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers, 433 West High Street, Bryan, OH 43506 or the Bryan Lioness Club – Scholarship Fund, ℅ Dorie Joseph, 108 Willow Circle, Bryan, OH 43506.