Ellena “Lee” Carey

Ellena M. Parisi (Lee) Carey, 90, of Endicott, completed her earthly journey and passed on peacefully to join her husband in heaven on March 18, 2015. Lee was born on February 10, 1925 in Madison, WI. She was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Rosaria Parisi, her husband, Tom Carey, her sisters, Sara Galvin, Connie Nelson, and Bess Rano, her brothers, Sam, Dimi, Charlie, Joe and Vince Parisi, and her sister-in-law, Nancy Carey. She is survived by her children, Kathy (Tom) Latini, Maureen (John) Hatfield, Thomas Carey, Michael Carey and Lisa (John) McHugh; her grandchildren, Jay and Daniel Epps, Kate (Andy) Hayes, Nicholas and Elizabeth Hatfield, Thomas Carey, Jr., Mary Shannon and Rory McHugh, great-grandson, Nathaniel Hayes, her sister Philippina Langbecker, and many nieces and nephews. After graduating high school in 1944, Lee was watching a parade where she saw a platoon of Women Marines, fell in love with their sharp uniforms, and enlisted shortly thereafter. She trained at Camp Lejuene, NC, and then served as a Postal Clerk at Quantico, VA, until the end of WWII. She returned to Madison, WI, but on the promise of good jobs, she was lured to Endicott by one of her Marine Corps friends. She arrived in Endicott and went to work for IBM. Soon afterwards, she met her future husband and they married on September 10, 1949. Lee spent the majority of her adult life as a homemaker, but she did work for several years at Amphenol Cadre. Lee was a 69-year member of American Legion Post 82, and was also a member of its Last Women’s Club. She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Endicott. Lee was a lifelong, avid bowler and bowled in various leagues beginning at the American Legion, then Riverhouse, and Mid-Way Lanes. She finished her bowling years well into her 80’s in a senior citizens league at Ideal Lanes. Lee loved doing crossword puzzles and word finds, and was an expert at solving the CryptoQuote and the Jumble in the daily Press & Sun Bulletin. Lee was a good and practical mother, who made the best pot of sauce and meatballs. She also loved to bake and was well-known for her cheesecake and upside down pineapple cake. After her husband retired from IBM, they made several trips to Italy and Ireland. The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses, aides, and staff at United Methodist Homes, Hilltop Campus, Sun Unit, and the J. G. Johnston Nursing Center, for their compassionate care of our mother.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 23 at 12 pm at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 306 Odell Avenue, Endicott. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends at church Monday from 10 am until 11:45 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Lee’s name to St. Anthony’s Food Pantry, 906 Jenkins Street, Endicott, NY 13760.