Ellie Tunkel

1918 - 2015

Ellie Tunkel obituary, 1918-2015, Pittsfield, MA

BORN

1918

DIED

2015

FUNERAL HOME

Ellie Tunkel Obituary

Ellie Tunkel

1918 - 2015 NORTH ADAMS Ellie Lillie (Mahsig) Tunkel, 97, of 41 Biltmore Avenue, died on July 16, 2015 at home surrounded by her loving family and caregivers. Ellie was born on May 14, 1918 in Rotterdam, NY, daughter of the late Emil Paul & Ellie (Sittner) Mahsig. Ellie graduated from Draper High School in 1935. She then graduated in 1939 from New York State College for Teachers in Albany, NY. After college she got a job working at General Electric where she met her husband, Hugo Tunkel, and married him on February 21, 1942. After marriage she continued working and they got a furnished apartment in Schenectady NY. Hugo got drafted into the Army found out the day they got married and left for the service in the fall of 1942. Hugo got stationed in San Francisco, CA and Ellie moved there to be with him. Ellie got a statistical job at a Steel Company and ended up staying there with Hugo for three years. Hugo saved enough money while in San Francisco to purchase a dry cleaning business back home in Albany, NY. Hugo served his time and they came home in 1946. Back home Ellie was a housewife; they bought their first home on 41 Division Street in Schenectady, NY. Hugo's brother, Alfred was managing JoAnne's Bakery in North Adams. Hugo and Alfred bought the bakery and became business partners. Hugo and Ellie then moved to North Adams in 1950. They rented an apartment on Bank Street in North Adams and then bought a house on Green River Road in Williamstown where they lived for 27 years. In 1966 they sold the bakery and retired. Ellie's parents moved up from Florida and bought a house next to Hugo and Ellie in Williamstown and lived there until they passed away. After retirement Ellie and Hugo bought a camper and traveled. They went back and forth across America three times they also took several trips over seas to many countries as well as a couple of cruises. They traveled all over Europe and around the world. After a rough winter they moved to Durham, NC. They lived there for 20 years until Hugo's health became bad so they moved back to North Adams in 1997. They purchased a home at 41 Biltmore Ave. Hugo passed away in 1998. Ellie enjoyed traveling, embroidery, sewing in general, her church and bowling, gardening, loving her two pet companions, Bonnie and Pepe her beloved dogs and spending time with family and friends. Ellie was a lifetime animal lover and had many dogs and cats throughout her life. She leaves behind two cousins, Jeannette Coonley and Joan Sherwood and niece, Leslie Sittner. She also leaves nieces Marlene Elia of New York, NY and Erika Uchman of North Adams; Helga and Edward Berger of North Adams and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, also leaves a Best Friend of many years, Helen Fredrick from Durham, NC and her sidekick, her beloved cat Smokey. She was predeceased by a niece, Ingrid Dickey. FUNERAL NOTICE: Graveside services for Ellie Tunkel will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 2pm at Eastlawn Cemetery in Williamstown, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any Animal Shelter or the Berkshire Humane Society of Pittsfield in care of the FLYNN & DAGNOLI FUNERAL HOME WEST CHAPEL 521 WEST MAIN ST. North Adams, MA 01247.



Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Jul. 18, 2015.
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I love you Ellie! I'll miss you. Love, Belinda

Belinda

July 19, 2015

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Jul

20

Graveside service

2:00 p.m.

Eastlawn Cemetery

Williamstown, MA

Funeral services provided by:

Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals-West Chapel - North Adams

521 West Main St, North Adams, MA 01247

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