Mary Ellinger

Mary Louise Ellinger was the middle child of James and Julia Byrne. She lived in the family home until 1995 when she married Charles Ellinger at the young age of 71 and moved to Hamden, Connecticut. In 2005, after ten beautiful years of marriage, Charles passed away and in July 2006, at the age of 82, May Louise, accompanied by her dog, drove across the country to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho to live near her niece Patricia.

Mary Louise attended St. Mary’s Grammar & High School in Paterson, NJ. In 1945 she graduated from Albertus Magnus College with a degree in Sociology. While attending college she lived with her beloved Aunt Rhea and her cousin Catherine in New Haven, CT.

Mary Louise loved to travel. She was a licensed pilot and spent many afternoons flying. She also enjoyed going to the theater in New York City. Mary Louise loved a good murder-mystery with Agatha Christie novels being her favorite. She kept her mind sharp doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles. She enjoyed watching anything on PBS especially the television series “Murder She Wrote.” Mary Louise was a devout Catholic and attended St. Thomas Parish in Coeur d’ Alene.

Bell Telephone was fortunate to have Mary Louise as a highly valued, lifelong employee. Her volunteer work included teaching non-English speaking adults to read, speak and write as well as transporting ill patients to their doctor’s appointments.

Mary Louise leaves behind her niece Patricia Byrne-Delport, nephew-in-law Johan Delport, niece Lisa Byrne, great-nephews Chris Delport and Alex Delport, and her great-great-nephew Carter Delport, as well as numerous cousins from The Donlon Family in Connecticut.