Mrs. Ella May Congdon

June 30, 1923 - October 13, 2014

Mrs. Ella May Congdon, 91, of Gloversville, New York, passed away on Monday, October 13, at home with her loving family beside her. She was born June 30, 1923, in the town of Johnstown. She was the daughter of the late Charles Frank and Annabell Soules of Sammonsville, New York. They moved to Gloversville and she attended Gloversville schools. In 1940, she married Walter F. Wilder (deceased) and they had three children, Ruth Hollenbeck (deceased), Claudia Funk and Linda LaCombe. In 1952, she married Patrick "Patsy" Lauritano with one surviving daughter, Vincetta Sicilia. In 1986, she married Edward A. Congdon. She was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Gloversville, New York and was very dedicated to the church activities. She ran the church food pantry for 12 years and felt to be blessed to help others. Ella had a very artistic ability in painting, sewing, crocheting and knitting. She was a New York state certified ceramic teacher and taught for 15 years locally in Gloversville at her home on Woodside Avenue. Winters she went to Florida and loved creating centerpieces and assisting in balloon design for the Balloon Connection in Longwood, Florida. She passed her talent off to her daughters. She loved to travel, go on cruises, and enjoyed her short trips to the New England coastline. Ella had a great love for animals of all kinds. Ella was employed with Mario Papa and Sons glove shop for 28 years as a sewing machine operator. She was a matriarch of her five-generation family, as her greatest love and affection was for her children, grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Edward A. Congdon from Gloversville, New York; stepson, Edward J. Congdon from Ellepville, Indiana; three daughters, Claudia Funk and her husband Charles Funk from Gloversville, New York, Linda LaCombe and her husband John LaCombe from Casselberry, Florida, and Vincetta Sicilia and her husband Larry Sicilia from Gloversville, New York. She leaves 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed. A funeral service will be held at Amico Funeral Home, 150 South Main Street, Gloversville, New York, on Thursday, October 16, at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Johnstown, New York. Family and friends may attend viewing today, Oct. 15, between 4 and 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Avenue, Gloversville, N.Y., and Dr. William Chester (veterinarian), 206 Paradise Point Road, Mayfield, New York 12117. www.amicofuneralhome.com.