Ellen Koelbel Hori

1955 - 2016

Ellen Koelbel Hori

AGE: 61 • South River

Ellen Mary Koelbel Hori, 61, of South River, NJ passed away peacefully at her home on June 17, with her family by her side. Born in Rockville Centre, NY on April 27, 1955, Ellen was the daughter of the late Nancy Gannon Koelbel and Joseph G. Koelbel, Jr. Along with her six siblings, she was raised in Massapequa, NY. She is survived by her four children Nobuko, Masae, Sadae and Takanari and her spouse of 29 years, Masahiro Hori.

Ellen had a tender, loving heart and her children note that she "saw each person she met as a child of God." She was a licensed massage therapist and worked at Alchemy Mind & Body of Kingston, NJ. She was in the process of obtaining her Master's Degree in School Counseling, an aspiration she received while working as a substitute teacher in the South River School District. Ellen also served as Secretary, Deacon and Elder at the First Reformed Church of South River, where her family attended since 1998. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her, especially her siblings Katherine Mull of Henrico, VA, Annie Haggenmiller of Chimacum, WA, John Koelbel of St. Leonard, MD, Patricia Gill of Norwalk, CT, Mary Engle of Alexandria, VA and Joseph Koelbel of Brooklyn, NY, her stepmother Barbara Koelbel of Springfield, VA along with her siblings' spouses and children - her much loved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 4 pm at the Reformed Church of Highland Park at 19-21 S. 2nd Ave., Highland Park, NJ. All in attendance are requested to wear white or colorful clothing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Reformed Church of South River, NJ at 40 Thomas Street, the church Ellen loved and served for many years.