Mary Ellen Fogelstrom

Mary Ellen (Counsell) Fogelstrom
Mary Ellen (Counsell) Fogelstrom, aged 89, beloved wife of Kenneth Loren Fogelstrom of Wallingford, CT died peacefully on Friday, December 1, 2023 at Midstate Medical Center, Meriden. Mary Ellen was born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 4, 1934, a daughter of the late Hubert James and Bertha Mabel Storey Counsell. She lived most of her adult life in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and had resided in Wallingford since 2015. As a child, she enjoyed playing the piano, golfing, and spending time with her beloved pet dog, Blondie. During WW2, she proudly created a victory garden, and that experience led to a life-long love for gardening. She enjoyed wildflowers, especially chicory, honeysuckle, and Queen Anne's Lace. She excelled in school at Central High, and matriculated at William Woods as a radio major. She completed her studies at the University of Minnesota as a journalism major. She married Kenneth Fogelstrom and raised two children, Kenny and Amy. She spent time volunteering as a cub scout and brownie scout leader, as well as a room mother. In later life, she helped raise her son's three children for several years. She was devoted to her Christian faith and to her family. She moved to Wallingford eight years ago, where she enjoyed reading the newspaper and keeping up on current events.
In addition to her husband, Mary Ellen is survived by her daughter Amy (Toby) Chai of North Haven, a sister, Ruth Bly of Los Angeles, CA, five grandchildren, Bradley Andrew Fogelstrom, Lori Renee (Matt) Largent, Kristen (Andrew) Shubert, Nathan Xianming (Kendyl) Chai and Hannah Li-en Chai, and four great-grandchildren, Ethan and Natalie Shubert and Ellie and Caleb Largent. She was predeceased by her son Kenneth Andrew Fogelstrom, her brother Richard Counsell and her great-granddaughter Haley Shubert.
Mary Ellen's family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery, 166 Wallingford Road, Cheshire. Memorial contributions may be sent to The Voice of the Martyrs, 1815 SE Bison Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006, www.persecution.com washingtonmemorialfh.com