M. Ella Winter

M. Ella Winter

Menands - M. Ella Winter, formerly of Dutch Village, Menands, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, joined her husband, Wilson and son Laurence, after a long illness. She was born January 4, 1917 in Waverly, NY, the youngest child of Archie E. and Maude Ann (Clarke) Brimmer.

Ella grew up on her family farm in Center Brunswick, NY where she always enjoyed making the cakes with her Irish mother for the farm hands daily lunch, and the horse drawn sleigh rides with her father through the snow in the winter.

Ella started her education in the two room school house in Center Brunswick , and graduated from Troy High School in 1934. She started her sales career in Frear's Department Store, and soon became known as their hand and foot model. She so enjoyed modeling all the lovely bracelets and shoes.

When she met and married her Scottish born husband, Wilson, they began a life full of adventure. Ella traveled alone by train across the country during World War II to be near where he was stationed. From Chicago, Illinois to Bremerton, Washington and then on to San Diego, California she saw many sights and had adventures that she talked about forever.

After the war was over Ella and Wilson settled in the Troy area where they raised four children. Ella worked numerous part-time jobs while her children were growing up so she, as she often put it ,"Could put the icing on the cake". She was most passionate about being an area sales manager for Stanley Home Products, where in one day she sold over $l,000, and now has her name inscribed on a star at Stanley Park in Westfield, Ma.

There was no happier person than Ella when her children and grandchildren were around. Summer visits from grandchildren, holiday dinners and family vacations, always put the light in her life. Active into her mid-eighties, she enjoyed water aerobics several days a week ,daily walks down Van Rensselaer Blvd. in her red hat, playing her organ, and going out to lunch with her son. Ella was also extremely fond of and grateful for her son-in-law, Jim, who she said was always there when she needed a helping hand.

Mom was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was a kind loving woman with a terrific sense of humor. Like her own mother, Mom's daily bible readings and regular church attendance, gave her great comfort during the trials of her life.

In addition to her parents, Ella was predeceased by her husband of 58 years Wilson in 1999, her son Laurence Alan, in a tragic accident in 1973, and her three siblings; Robert Mandeville, Olive Haber and Victor Brimmer.

She will be dearly missed by her three children, Wilson Winter III., Ocala, Florida, Ronald (Jennifer) Winter, Hebron, Ct. and her daughter and best friend, Nancy Winter (James K. III) Patrick of Menands, NY. She was also adored by eight grandchildren; Michelle (David) Yesenofsky, Allentown, PA, Brian (Karen) Winter, PA; Kevin Winter, Tampa, FL, Sara Winter, Sudderton,PA, Heather, Hebron, CT; James K. (Stephanie) Patrick IV, Ipswich, MA, Lori W. (William) Cabrera, Ashburn,Virginia and Courtney J. Patrick , Boston, MA. Great-grandma Winter also leaves 12 beautiful great-grandchildren; the most recent having been born in December. In addition she leaves five nephews and a niece.

A celebration of Ella's life will be held at the convenience of the family. We will meet again Mom, "Beyond the Sunset".

Add A Private Note To The Family Guest Book

 Service Information