Alfreda M. Ellis

November 27, 1934 – April 5, 2025

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.

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 competed in and won several 5k races. She was active in the Ramblewood Condominium Association and was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Altamonte Springs.

Alfreda was survived by two brothers, Raff Ellis of Altamonte Springs (who died on Saturday, June 21, 2025) 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.

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).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 14, 2025, at St. James Catholic Church in Carthage, NY 13619. Burial will follow in the St. James Cemetery, Carthage.

Arrangements are in the care of the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, memorial contributions may be made to the St. James Catholic Church, 327 West St., Carthage, NY 13619. To leave a condolence, please visit www.bezanillafh.com.

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/>.