Alfreda M Ellis

Alfreda M. Ellis, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 5, 2025, in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Alfreda was born on November 27, 1934 in Carthage, New York, to Toufee Traad Ellis (Kamide) and
Angele Hobeiche Ellis. She was the fifth of six children, born eleven months after her beloved “twin”
brother Alfred. Her parents were immigrants to the United States from the Kesrouan region of
Lebanon and prominent figures in Carthage’s Lebanese American community.

After graduating in 1951 from Augustinian Academy in Carthage, where she was a member of her high
school cheerleading squad, Alfreda joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown, New York, a Roman
Catholic order whose mission is education. As Sr. Marie Ancilla, she earned bachelor’s and master’s
degrees from the State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh. She taught at St. Mary’s Catholic
School in Massena, New York, and later was principal of Holy Name School in Ausable Forks, New
York.
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Alfreda continued her commitment to education and social justice after rejoining secular life and
relocating to Florida in the early 1970s. She worked for the Newman Center in Winter Park, Florida,
and volunteered with the United Farm Workers. Alfreda served for over twenty years as an
administrator at Florida International University in Miami, Florida (a top 30 public university), where
she was Director of the University Learning Center & Testing, and mentored students from other
countries.

In retirement, Alfreda worked as a substitute teacher. She divided her time between Altamonte Springs
and her cherished family home in Carthage. She enjoyed travel, including trips to Lebanon to see
family, making her last visit in 2019 with her brother Kail. In her eighties she enjoyed competing in
local 5k races, winning in her age group multiple times. She was active in the Ramblewood
Condominium Association and was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Altamonte Springs.
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Alfreda is survived by two brothers, Raff Ellis of Altamonte Springs and Rev. Dr. Kail C. Ellis OSA of
Villanova, PA; nieces Angele Ellis of Pittsburgh, PA, Diana Ellis of Winter Park, Rafaela Ellis of
Lakeland, FL, and Diane Ellis of Glen Mills, PA; nephews Christopher Ellis of Fairview, TN, Matthew
Ellis of Blackwood, NJ, and Bradley Ellis of Lunenburg, MA; grandnephews Dominic Ellis and
Gregory Ellis; her grandniece and goddaughter Maria Ellis, and a number of cousins and friends.
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She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Delor Ellis and Fr. Alfred Ellis OSA, and her
sister, Sr. Marie Angele Ellis SSJ (born Theresa Ellis).
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A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church in Altamonte
Springs at 12 noon on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, with a private reception to follow. The Mass will be
celebrated by Alfreda’s longtime friend Fr. Pat O’Neill.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hope Community Center, 1016 N
Park Avenue, Apopka, FL 32712 https://hcc-offm.org/donate

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