Obituary of Regina L. Ellis

Regina Lois Ellis, 89, of 165 Aldren Ave. Jamestown, NY, formerly of Busti, passed away Monday, May 20, 2019, in UPMC Chautauqua.

An area resident for most of her life, she was born December 17, 1929 in Jamestown, NY a daughter of the late John Fritiof and Eva Cecilia Johnson.

Regina was a 1948 graduate of Jamestown High School where she was affectionately known to have a "Smile' for everyone.

On March 19, 1949, Regina and Robert L. Ellis were married in her parents home and this year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Regina was stricken with polio September 21, 1953, and for the rest of her life she favored her left leg. For her years of persistence she was named "Polio Mother of the Year" in 1957.

In spite of this, she went on to raise four children and was the epitome of a loving, caring mother who always had cookies, dry mittens, and excellent home cooked meals for the family. She was second to none when it came to cooking, baking, sewing, and knitting for her family.

When all of her children were of school age, Regina worked part-time for Metropolitan Insurance.

Regina and Bob spent 17 years in Florida where he worked for two different grocery companies in Tampa and then they retired to Lake Wales, FL. They returned to Jamestown in 1997 to be near family and friends.

She was a member of the Busti Federated Church and formerly the Epworth Christ United Methodist Church in Jamestown. She was also a member of the Lakewood-Busti Golden Agers and a former member of the Diana Lodge 114, Independent Order of the Vikings.

Surviving is her husband, Robert L. Ellis, her four children; Linda (Dan) Anderson of North Port, FL, David Ellis, James (Pam) Ellis both of Busti, Kay (Brian) Nelson of Falconer, NY, six grandchildren, Eva Christina Schreckengost (Wayne Osgood) of Randolph, NY, Jennifer Munn (Ryan) of Charlotte, NC, Ted Ellis of Jamestown, Tad Ellis (Bobbie-Jo) of Willow, AK, Michael Ordines (Carrie), Scott Ordines (Lindsey) both of Jamestown and 10 great grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Donald Ellis, her older sister, Inez Ross and her twin sister, Elaine Bratt.

The funeral will be held at 1:30 pm Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Lee O'Brien, pastor of the Busti Federated Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Friends will be received from 6-8 pm Thursday and for one hour prior to the service on Friday in the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Busti Federated Church, 875 Mill Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Busti Fire Department, 886 Mill Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701.