Mary Ellen Westlake
October 17, 1931 – December 29, 2020
Described as “radical” in her high school year book, she pursued her goals with energy and enthusiasm throughout life.
Visiting Hours:
Friday, January 1, 2021
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 2, 2021
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Baker-Swan Funeral Home, Andover
Funeral Service:
Saturday, January 2, 2021
2:00 p.m.
Baker-Swan Funeral Home, Andover
Mary Ellen Westlake, 89, passed away peacefully at home Tuesday, December 29, 2020.
Mrs. Westlake was born on Oct. 17, 1931, in Hornell to Nathan and Mary (Pierce) Tucker of Alfred. She was a 1949 graduate of Alfred-Almond Central School. Described as “radical” in her high school year book, she pursued her goals with energy and enthusiasm throughout life.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Latin from Alfred University in 1953 and her Master of Education in Guidance Counseling, also from Alfred University. On April 17, 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, John E. Westlake, a Korean War veteran, who predeceased her on June 13, 2003.
Mary Ellen’s first teaching job was at Arkport Central School, where she taught the unusual combination of Latin and Phys. Ed. and advised the cheerleading team. After a few years off when her daughter, Susan, was born, she taught Latin part-time at Alfred-Almond Central School for 27 years, retiring in 1988. At Alfred-Almond, she started and advised a chapter of the Junior Classical League, taking students to state and national conventions where they won many awards. She also served as advisor to the National Honor Society and the Academic All-Stars.
In recognition of Mary Ellen’s deep appreciation for her community and her lifetime of service, she was honored as the Alfred-Almond Alumni Association’s Outstanding Service Award Honoree of 2020. Mary Ellen’s life exemplified the spirit of the award even from her younger days. She served as Alfred playground monitor in high school and as a basketball official while still in college. She and her husband were on the Hornellsville Zoning Board, with Mary Ellen as secretary, and were charter members of the Almond Historical Society. She enjoyed being a Camp Fire Girls Leader for seven years when Susan and her friends were involved. She knitted her way through meetings of the A-A Faculty Association and PTA (and many football games) and was active in the Almond 20th Century Club, owner of the Almond Library.
After retirement, Mary Ellen learned to quilt and used this skill to provide a lovely log cabin quilt for the Library’s annual Election Day Raffle every year for about 20 years. She also made wall hangings for Bristol Valley Theater’s fundraising efforts and to brighten the halls of Wellsville Manor Nursing Home, where John spent his final months. Her broad sense of civic responsibility was maintained in later years by her support of the A-A Alumni Association, Alfred University, Allegany County Historical Society, Hornell Garden Club, Special Olympics, Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, and Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Mary Ellen imparted to her family her healthy sense of civic pride as they worked together to nurture people and serve their community. One of Mary Ellen’s great joys was in decorating the Almond Historical Society’s Hagadorn House Museum for Christmas, where her imagination blossomed with varying themes and all-natural, hand-made displays, with her daughter and grandchildren’s assistance. She served for many years as unofficial curator, costume manager, and occasional tour guide for this museum of local history.
She delighted in collecting antiques and completely remodeled her house together with her husband. When that was finished, they started over with a cottage on Canandaigua Lake, which they enjoyed year-round.
Other personal pleasures included feeding the birds and gardening, both vegetables and flowers. When failing eyesight prevented her from quilting, the flower beds and containers around her home continued to turn heads.
Given Mary Ellen’s life-long love of learning, it was natural for this love to flow into her family. Susan has many cherished memories of visiting educational sites such as historic homes, museums, galleries, factories, zoos, aquariums, and beaches, especially in the area around Plymouth, MA, where they vacationed annually.
Mary Ellen is survived by her daughter, Susan (Tom) Steere of Hornellsville; three siblings, Joyce (Ken) Hance of Castile, Marjorie (Jim) Lange of Lenexa, KS, and Richard Tucker of Punta Gorda, FL; six grandchildren, Carolyn (Edward) Tee of Watertown, Daniel (Carissa) Steere of Youngsville, NC, Artemas (Mollie) Steere of Syracuse, John (Dallas) Steere of Philadelphia, PA, James (Madilyn) Steere of Copenhagen, NY, and David Steere of Hornellsville; four great-grandchildren, Edward Tee II, Gemma Tee, Blakely Steere and Oliver Steere; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Friday (Jan. 1) from 5–7 p.m. and Saturday from 1–2 p.m. at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. Due to Covid-19, social distancing and masks will be required. The funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home immediately following the visitation, with Rev. Kenneth Chroniger of the Alfred Station Seventh Day Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Alfred Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Mary Ellen’s name may be made to the Almond 20th Century Club Library, P.O. Box D, Almond, NY 14804. © 2020 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.
