Mary Ellen Ford, 86, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Cornwall Manor.
Born on Nov. 27, 1937, in Columbia, PA, Mary Ellen was the daughter of the late Roy J. Keiser Sr. and Nora Keiser.
After graduating from Columbia High School, Mary Ellen worked for several years in advertising at The Columbia News and then spent the next 18 years raising her family. She then worked 15 years for the Lebanon County Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and, until her retirement in 2002, worked as a coordinator of Lebanon Valley College’s Kreiderheim guesthouse and conference center. She was a member of the Annville United Methodist Church.
Mary Ellen lived with her husband and children in Cambridge, England, during the 1972-73 year, when her husband was affiliated with the University of Cambridge. She and her husband lived in Damascus, Syria, during the 1984-85 year, when Art was a Fulbright lecturer, and during the 1988-89 school year at the University of Nanjing, China, when he taught, also in the Fulbright program. While at Nanjing, Mary Ellen taught English as a Second Language. During the first semester of the 2000-01 school year, she and her husband served as directors of LVC’s study abroad program in London, England.
Following her retirement, Mary Ellen volunteered with the Lebanon Family Health organization, Meals on Wheels, and the Hershey Theater. She was also on several committees of Lebanon Valley College and the Annville United Methodist Church. Mary Ellen also enjoyed spending March with her husband at the Phillies Spring Training Center in Clearwater, Florida, and walking along the shore at Clearwater Beach.
Beloved by all who knew her, she prized most of all her time with her children and grandchildren, supporting them at all their scholastic, sports, and cultural events.
She was preceded in death by her late husband, Arthur Ford Jr., who passed in 2022. She is survived by her three daughters, Penny Nechanicky, spouse of Jeff, Peggy Neiswender, spouse of Daryl, and Jean Gress, spouse of Michael; six grandchildren, Meegan Schuckers, Lauren Sirriannia, spouse of Joseph, Ryan Neiswender, spouse of Lauren, Michael Gress Jr., Aaron Gress, and Samantha Gress; and a great-grandson, Rowan Sirriannia. She was preceded in death by a sister, Isabel Kirchner; and a brother, Roy Keiser Jr.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the chapel at Cornwall Manor, 1 Boyd St., Cornwall. Interment will be held privately. There will be a time of visitation from 10 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lebanon Valley College or Cornwall Manor.
