Ellen Marie (Brookins) Adams went Home to be with the Lord Monday evening due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. Born on September 27, 1942 to Louis L. Brookins and Ellen Marie Albright, her childhood was spent growing up in Norwich, NY. She attended school in Norwich, playing her trumpet and marching in the band. During high school, she found her passion while taking business courses. She could take shorthand at 110 wpm and loved typing. In the spring of her senior year in high school, Ellen took a civil service exam which landed her a position in the Housing and Home Finance Agency in Washington, DC. She graduated in June of 1960 and began her new job on August 15th. However, she didn’t like being away from home. She quickly returned to Norwich, where she began working as a secretary at the Upper Bank. It is there, that she met the love of her life, Richard E. Adams. They were married on December 11, 1964. Soon thereafter, she quit that job to become a fulltime housewife and a stay-at-home mom, both of which she adored. She and Dad also chose to become foster parents, as they loved children. In March 1974, Ellen re-entered the work force, as a journal clerk for Chenango County. Later she became the Executive Secretary for the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Chenango County. It was a position that she absolutely loved for 29 years. When mom wasn’t working or playing taxi driver to 3 or more kids, she was teaching Sunday school and VBS at Calvary Baptist Church in Norwich, where she was a life time member. She enjoyed attending church, and prayer meeting, Ladies Bible Study and Missionary Circle. She loved to sing in the choir and participated in many Christmas and Easter Cantatas. Ellen was an avid reader and she liked to knit. She loved collecting antiques and enjoyed cooking and baking for others. She liked putting jigsaw puzzles together and playing card games with her kids and grandkids. Following retirement, she and Richard, would split their time between NY and California, choosing to winter out west, so they could spend time enjoying all of their grandchildren.
She is survived by her three children, a son, Randy and his wife, Mishele and their four sons, Ridge, Brett, Dillin and Jacob. And two daughters, Terri, her husband, John and daughter Emilie and Shannon, , her husband, Douglas, and their daughters, Kylie, Ashley, and Sara. Great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ellen was predeceased by her two older brothers, Richard Brookins and Nelson Brookins, her parents Louis L. Brookins and Ellen Marie (Albright) Brookins and her husband, Richard E. Adams.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2016 from 10:00 am-12:00 from the Calvary Baptist Church of Norwich. The Rev. Brian Conover, Pastor, will officiate with the funeral to follow at 12:00. Burial will follow at the South Plymouth Cemetery.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th floor, NY, NY 10001 with checks made payable to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
PLEASE NOTE ELLEN’S FAVORITE COLORS WERE RED AND YELLOW. IT WAS HER REQUEST THAT EVERYONE WEAR THOSE COLORS TO THE CALLING HOURS AND FUNERAL.