Mary Ellen Steen Birkinbine Smith died Aug. 19, 2014, in New Haven, CT. Born in Framingham, MA, to the late John L. and Eleanor Birkinbine Marcy, she was the oldest of five children: twin sister, Marjorie Ann and sisters, Frances B. Welch and Catherine B (Bloxsom), all of Orr’s Island, and brother John of Northfield Ill.
She was the grandchild of the late Gregory and Frances Allyn and maintained close relationships with many cousins, aunts and uncles.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Sandra Ann Smith, and is survived by her son Christopher J. Smith and his wife Sherri; her beloved grandchildren, Aidan J. and Ava K; her son, Kaiya Sylvana; and Angela H. Legg.
Mary Ellen graduated from Elmira College, Elmira, NY, with a degree in music, and from the School of Nursing Boston Children’s Hospital. Forty-three of her 45 years of nursing were spent in pediatrics, primarily premature and sick newborn infants. She worked in New Haven for the last 25 years at Yale NHH.
A memorial service will be held on Sept. 13, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, 111 Church Drive, Cheshire, CT.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wallingford Funeral Home (www.wallingfordfh.com). Donations in her honor may be given to Orr’s & Bailey Island Fire Rescue, Orr’s Island, or MHPP, Brunswick ME.
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