Ellen Alexandria Pagenstecher Lewis

Tallahassee, FL - Ellen Alexandria Pagenstecher Lewis passed away peacefully on January 18, 2024, with her family at her side. Up until that moment, even after living over 15 years with dementia, she remained calm, content, and accepting of life, having never once complained, cried or evidenced regret. She was a unique and spiritual personality.

Ellen was born in San Antonio, Texas on February 12, 1943. She was the middle child among three daughters of Charles Francis Alexander and Adelyn (Herman) Pagenstecher. She was proud to be a Texan and a Pagenstecher, and never held back from letting the world know it. In fact, she did not hold back on much. She liked everything Pagenstecher: the family crest, her custom-made Pagenstecher crest ring, and simply to hear the name so much that she insisted on making it a middle name of each of her three children.

She grew up in McAllen, Texas, meeting her husband-to-be at age 3 when they were both in pre-kindergarten. From that early age and throughout her life, Ellen marched to the mantra, 'Que Sera Sera.' She went with the flow and accepted whatever came her way. She attended public school in McAllen, Texas, and was liked by all because of her bubbly personality. She was a class officer throughout her high school years and then took off to Virginia to attend Mary Baldwin College. During college, she would spend summers traveling, one of her passions, to different places in Europe. After college, she worked as an elementary school teacher for several years.

In 1973, she married John Rawlins Lewis. The two were the best of friends for 78 years and married for 51 of those. Anyone who knew them well as a couple knew that they had different personalities, but much in common, including a strong affinity for family and friends, and for old and beautiful things. They were kindred spirits.





After they married, she often jokingly mentioned she "retired to cook and raise a small brood of children." She did not work for pay again, but she worked very hard raising her children and for her family. She, and Ernestine Footman, the family's devoted housekeeper, banded together to help her rear her most prized possessions. Ernestine cooked, cleaned, cared, and loved, loved, loved the children. Ellen believed that those efforts paid off. She was the proud mother of Anne-Marie Pagenstecher Lewis (wife to Darin Singleton and mother of Mason, Madelyn, and Meghan,) Bradford Rawlins Pagenstecher Lewis (husband to Morgan and father of Rawlins and Blythe,) and Emily-Adele Pagenstecher Lewis "Pagen" (wife to Chris Harvey and mother of Ella and Gaver). She was a wonderful wife and mother and recognized that she was blessed with love and returned it many-fold.

Ellen was also blessed with many loving friends. A great number of them played bridge, a game that she relished. Throughout her long struggle with dementia, two of her dearest friends and bridge buddies, Kathleen Radey and Candy Woodward, stood unwavering, as did Jan and Frank Sheffield and Gail and Gil Ziffer. They truly loved Ellen, for which her family will always be grateful.

Ellen, aka Momma, Sweetheart, Mimi, and 'El Babe' was preceded in death by her sister Anne Pagenstecher Simpson and is survived by her sister, Mari Pagenstecher, her three children, their spouses, her combined seven grandchildren and her husband, John.

Years ago, Ellen requested to be cremated and honored privately at a small family gathering, that would be a celebration of joy, after passing. Those wishes will be honored.

Any desired memorial contribution can be made to the Big Bend Hospice Foundation, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.

The family would like to give special thanks to the loving and dedicated caregivers at Westminster Oaks, Azalea Gardens, and most recently, the Dozier Hospice House, for the wonderful support given to Ellen throughout her last years and days. She remained peaceful and content throughout it all.