Vivien E. Ellis

ELLIS VIVIEN EVANS ELLIS "Viv" (Age 81) Of Bethesda, MD, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2011. A native Washingtonian, she was the daughter of Edwin Gough Evans and Ann Marie Evans (deceased). Vivien was a proud graduate of both the Sacred Heart Academy and Georgetown Visitation High School and Junior College. Her career as a medical secretary spanned more than four decades of faithful service to Dr. Frederick Burke, Dr. Lawrence McCaleb and Dr. Daniel DelLatorre. Vivien was an athlete, musician, gardener, artist, traveler and a beach bum. Well known for her gift of conversation, she always entertained us and talked the ears off her family and friends. She played basketball in high school and fussed often about the Washington Redskins. She played the piano for years, instilling a love for music to her children at an early age. Vivien cherished the Chesapeake Bay, collecting shark teeth, eating crabs and especially enjoyed bon-fires on the beach with friends, children and grandchildren gathered around. Vivien was a member of the Saint Bartholomew's Church Choir, her second family, for over 35 years. She happily participated in numerous shows, musical productions and rarely missed the standing gig of Sunday mass. She loved the music, the weekly practices and most of all, the friendships developed over a shared passion and her belief in God. Vivien will be sorely missed by all especially her lifelong friends, choir partners, travelling companions and "partners in crime", Mary Lou and Chuck Woolsey. She was the beloved mother of Martha Anne Yates, of Dickerson, MD, George Joseph Ellis III of Manassas, VA, Edwin Gerard Ellis of Laurel, MD, James Christopher Ellis of Bethesda, MD and Mary Ellis Folsom of Mount Airy, MD. She was the loving Mother-In-Law to Martin Yates, Theresa Coates Ellis, Sonia Ellis, Stephanie Gage Ellis and Mark Folsom. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Sarah Vivien Yates, Maria Christine Ellis, Natalie Renee Ellis, Jillian Noelle Ellis, Meagan Leah Ellis, Eric Gerard Ellis, Dylan James Ellis, Joshua Gage Ellis, Evan Michelle Folsom and Bailey Grace Folsom. She is also survived by one great grandchild, Elijah Gerard Ellis. The family will receive friends at the Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home in Rockville, MD, 300 W. Montgomery Ave on Thursday, September 1, 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 2, 2011 at Saint Bartholomew's Catholic Church, 7212 River Rd., Bethesda, MD with a lunch reception to follow at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Banquet Hall, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, MD. There will be a private family burial. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, 4200 Harewood Road Northeast, Washington D.C., DC 20017-1554.