Obituary of Ellen M. Leahy

Ellen M. Leahy, age 91 of Ringwood, died on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. She was born in Manhattan, NY and resided in North Bergen where she and her husband raised their four children. Upon their retirement in 1982, she and her husband moved to Barnegat, NJ until moving to Ringwood, NJ two years ago so Ellen could be closer to family members. Prior to her retirement, Ellen worked for many years as a teacher’s aide for the North Bergen Board of Education where she touched the hearts of numerous students. Following her retirement, Ellen loved to go shopping, making countless trips to Atlantic City and in her spare time, you would find her crocheting. Ellen always enjoyed happy occasions and a good love story, as a result, you would always find the Hallmark Channel running 24 hours a day! Ellen was predeceased by the love of her life and best friend, Raymond A. Leahy on September 23, 2010 following 61 years of marriage. She is survived by her loving family, Thomas Leahy and his wife, Debbie, Lou-Ann Downs and her husband, Rodney, Raymond Leahy and his wife Judy, Kevin Leahy and his wife Nancy, along with her 10 grandchildren: Keith, Erin, Kristy, Shannon, Kerri, Jessica, Ryan, Rachel, Kyle and Skyler and six great-grandchildren: Paige, Grace, Dillon, Mackenzie, Logan and Rowan. She is also survived by her brothers: Robert Barker and his wife, Toni, Kenneth Barker and his wife, Doris and her sisters: Norma Fausak and Barbara Buccheri. In addition to her husband, Ellen is also predeceased by her grandson, Keith, her parents, Myron and Leila Barker and her sister, Marion Overmann. Ellen’s greatest treasure was spending time with her family and making countless memories with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a blessing to all who knew her and she will be sorely missed. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s memory may be made to the Wills Eye Foundation, 840 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.