Mary Ellen Morse
August 16, 2011

Mary Ellen (Danaher) Morse, 83, passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, in her home at Northfield Enriched Living in Fairport, N.Y.

She was born September 9, 1927, in Utica, and grew up in Utica with her parents, Richard S. and Catherine (Roche) Danaher. She was educated in Utica schools and graduated from Utica Catholic Academy, class of 1945. Prior to her marriage she was employed as an Activities Director in Stanford, Conn.

In Old Forge, she was a successful day care provider for many years. She married Mahlon P. Morse on September 20, 1947 in St. Anthony’s Church in Utica and they settled in Whitesboro to start their family. In 1969 they moved to Old Forge where they remained for 36 years. More recently, declining health forced them to move to Pittsford, N.Y., and Mahlon died in 2006 after 58 years of marriage. Besides her husband, Mary was predeceased by her son, Kenneth, in 1993.

She leaves her children, Tim (Cheryl) of St. Paul, Minn.; Ellen (Thomas) Russell of Montgomery, Texas; Patricia (Gary) Boys of Northboro, Mass; Rick (Kathy) of Baltimore, Md; Diane (Mark) Comolli of Bethany Beach, Del; Jacquelyn (Mark) Bestram of Pittsford, N.Y.; and Lynda Low of Baltimore, Md.

She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and her sister-in-law Eve Danaher of Whitesboro. She also leaves many loving nephews and nieces and their families. Mary was also predeceased by her parents, her brothers; Harold and Richard Danaher, and her sister Mildred (Millie) Weber.

Calling hours at the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, 128 Fern Avenue, Old Forge, will be on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. A celebration of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 22 at St. Bartholomew's Church in Old Forge. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Old Forge Ambulance Fund or St. Bartholomew’s Church, in Old Forge, NY 13420, or VNS Hospice Services of Rochester, 2180 Empire Boulevard, Webster, NY 14580.