Ellen F. Elmendorf

November 18, 1923 - March 8, 2019

Albany-Ellen Fehsenfeld Elmendorf, 95, died peacefully, March 8, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Baltimore, Maryland she was the daughter of the late William Henry and Sarah Williams Fehsenfeld. Proud of her American heritage, she was a direct descendant of Captain John Smith, born in Virginia 1710. Ellen was also a proud alumna of Goucher College, Class of 1945, where she served as Class President and was Queen of May Court. After graduation she hosted a radio fashion show under the name Betty Howard with Hutzler’s in Baltimore. She then focused on caring for her children and restoring their family home, a 200-year-old farmhouse in Feura Bush. Some years later, she was a manager of The Shop at the Albany Institute of History and Art. She also worked as a realtor, nursery school teacher, and at the Cottage Herb Farm Shop. Music was an important part of her life, especially opera, as her mother was an opera singer at the Peabody Conservatory. She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening, traveling, classical music, museums, Adirondack summers, Newport, Woodgate, all things Maryland, but above all spending precious time with her beloved family. Her sense of adventure included living in Europe for several years with her young family, parasailing on her 70th birthday, swimming anywhere, anytime, any season. She was the consummate lady with an elegant buoyant spirit. Ever the essence of grace and charm, Ellen greeted one and all with her warmth and kindness. She was a legacy member of the Fort Orange Garden Club, honorary member of the Lake George Club, past president of the Mother’s Association at Albany Academy for Girls, Regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution, honorary member emerita of The Friday Morning Club, former member of Capital Hill Choral Society and longtime member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Ellen was the beloved mother of Dr. Sarah Elmendorf (Bruce DiStefano), Mary Elmendorf Dunn (David), Rev. Gretchen Elmendorf (Andrew Vaughan), Laura Elmendorf Britton (Dr. Lewis Britton) and the late DuMont Frelinghuysen Elmendorf III; cherished grandmother of Keith Elmendorf DiStefano (Jamie), Ellen Alexandra DiStefano, Timothy Bruce DiStefano, Hannah McKellar Dunn and Maxwell Williams Vaughan; sister of the late Dorothy Leithiser, Katherine Gminder and Gwynneth Wilson; aunt of General Richard Leithiser; Godmother of Jeffrey Redding; and also survived by many devoted great nieces and nephews. The family would like to especially thank the caring staff of the Eddy Village Green at Cohoes. Funeral services Friday, March 15, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Albany, NY. There will be no public visitation, and interment at Albany Rural Cemetery will be held privately. In Lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Ellen may send a contribution to either St. Peter’s Epis-copal Church, 107 State Street., Albany, NY 12207 or the Albany Institute of History and Art, 125 Wash-ington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. To leave a message for the family, light a virtual candle, obtain direc-tions or view other helpful services please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com