Carolyn Ann Ellman passed peacefully on March 13, 2023.
She was predeceased by her husband, best friend, and great love Kenneth Ellman.
She was born on April 3, 1941 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as the daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Lockwood) Wagner and the sister of the late Robert Wagner.
Carolyn spent her childhood learning responsibility and patience for her extended family, which included hardships they all endured to support and live with three generations of family in one house. She learned resilience from saying goodbye to her father who was deployed during World War II and saying hello to him when he returned as a changed man. She learned to survive grief at the loss of her beloved brother Robert at a young age. Raised primarily in Brockport, NY, she graduated from Brockport High School and went on to complete her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Education at SUNY Brockport.
A passionate teacher, she taught math and elementary education at Gates-Chili Central School District for her entire career. She used every minute of that career to kindly and gently mold her students in academic and social skills.
During the summers, Carolyn worked for the Greece Department of Recreation, directing Lakeshore Playground and then serving as “Crafty Carol” at all the sites.
A woman of great faith, Carolyn was a Eucharistic minister and taught Sunday school, Confirmation and Pre-Cana classes at Mother of Sorrows. Active in the community, she led a scout troop, and coached recreation soccer. She participated in the Red Hat Society and was part of the “Sexy Six.”
She became a stronger branch in our family tree with every generation. Carolyn was a wonderful grandmother, and an amazing great grandma, living life with her little ones with joy and good humor.
Carolyn is survived by siblings Richard (Susan) Wagner, and Jocelyn (Randy) Sodoma, children Richard Jr. (Anna) Rohrberg, Barbara Martorana, Debbie Carpenter, grandchildren Cassidy and Tyler Rohrberg, Miranda, Jordan, and Diana Martorana, Joshua (Kayla) and Jesse Stein, and her great-grandchildren Mason and Avery Stein. She will be greatly missed.
Services and interment will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Carolyn wishes donations to be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of Ken. For more information and to sign her online guestbook, visit www.meesonfamily.com
