Obituary of Mary Ellen Kania

CHESHIRE - Mary Ellen (Hayes) Kania, 87, died peacefully on Friday, November 23, 2018.  She had been living at Elim Park with her husband of sixty-five years, Edwin M. Kania, after residing in Cheshire for sixty-four years.

Mary Ellen was born on July 4, 1931 in Hartford, CT; as a child, she always thought the fireworks were celebrating her birthday.   The daughter of Monard Vinson and Roberta Mathews Hayes, she lived for most of her childhood in Ridgewood, NJ.  Mary Ellen graduated from Wellesley College, with a degree in History.  She earned her MS degree in English from Southern Connecticut State College. 

Mary Ellen loved to teach and was a substitute high school English teacher in area public schools.  She worked for many years as a training supervisor at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, from which she retired in 1998. She was passionate about history and was the long-time Curator and a former Director of the Cheshire Historical Society.   She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and belonged over the years to the League of Women Voters, the Cheshire Women’s Club and the Junior League of Waterbury.  Mary Ellen enjoyed literature and friendship with a women’s book group of many years.  She and Ed played skillful bridge for over forty years with the Cheshire Duplicate Bridge group.  They traveled extensively after their children were grown.

In addition to her beloved husband Edwin, Mary Ellen leaves three children, Edwin Jr. and his wife Ann of Cambridge MA, Roberta of Brookline MA, John and his wife Holly of Lincoln MA and nine grandchildren, as well as extended family.  

A Service in Thanksgiving for the Life of Mary Ellen Kania will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1 PM at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 59 Main Street, Cheshire.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary Ellen’s memory may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Cheshire, 06410 or Masonicare Home Health and Hospice, 104 South Turnpike Rd. Wallingford, 06494.  The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire is assisting with arrangements.