Obituary of Ellenora Mae Pond Oberhofer

Ellenora Mae Pond Oberhofer entered into rest Wednesday, September 10, 2014. She was 104. Born in Brooklyn on September 29, 1909, she graduated from Adelphi College with a major in economics in 1931. She worked in a variety of records management positions throughout the Depression and into the 1950's. She married Norman Edward Oberhofer in 1935 and accompanied him to Boston during World War II, where she volunteered with the Naval Officers' Wives. They moved to North Bellmore on Long Island in 1953, where Ellenora became Alumnae Director of Adelphi and later taught fourth grade for 20 years, while caring for a sick husband, a child, and elderly relatives, and also serving on the P.T.A. Board and the church vestry. Widowed for many years, she came to Dutchess County in 1981. She started two chapters of Church Women United; served on the Dutchess County Interfaith Council and the Dutchess Child Care Council; and chaired Public Policy for the Poughkeepsie Branch of the American Association of University Women. A knitter and dressmaker since childhood, she joined the Schuyler Embroiderers Guild and volunteered at the Mills Mansion, working on the reproduction of an eighteenth century tapestry every Monday morning for many years. She was president of the Fortnightly Club, and also participated actively in Planned Parenthood, the Older Women's League, Zion Episcopal Church, 28 Club, and AAUW book and bridge groups. In 2007 she was named Dutchess County Senior Citizen of the Year. She leaves a daughter and son-in-law: Peggy Oberhofer Kelland and Steve Michael Kelland; two grandchildren: Sarah Elizabeth Kelland and David Norman Kelland; a great-grandson: Caleb Xavier Ceballos; a niece and her husband: Barbara Pond Aiello and Peter Aiello; three great nieces and nephew: Peter Dorning Aiello, Terri Aiello Passantino, and Mariellen Aiello Heinemann; their spouses and nine great-great nieces and nephews. Ellenora's husband Norman and her brother Ralph Dorning Pond were predeceased. Calling hours will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. on Monday, September 15, 2014 at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street in Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will take place at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 16 at Zion Episcopal Church, Satterlee Place in Wappingers Falls. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ellenora's name to Zion Episcopal Church, AAUW Public Policy Fund, or Dutchess County Interfaith Council. For directions or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.