Ellen Mae Frank was born on October 30, 1927 in Walton, NY to Mr. and Mrs. William S. Frank Sr.  Ellen was the second of six children in the Frank family.  After graduating from Walton High School in 1945, she went to Albany, NY for one year to attend and receive a degree in cosmotology at the Albany School for Cosmotology.  Ellen went right from school to Hamilton, NY to practice hairdressing at her Aunt Della's hair salon.  While working there she fell in love with the man of her dreams, R. Eugene Woods, better known as Gene.  Gene and Ellen got married on May 10, 1947.  On October 4, 1949, they had their first child named Sue Ellen.  The next year on November 20, 1950, they had a son named Ricky Erving.  The next year on October 1, 1951, along came their third child named Beth Ann.  Hence the reason her baby brother teased her that she was like a cow that freshened every fall! (Obviously we came from farm country!)  Nine years later on December 5, 1960, along came "the only planned" child named Phyllis Eileen.  This made for a pretty full house as you can imagine. 


The one thing that Ellen instilled in all of her children was a great sense of family and the importance of always being there for one another no matter what!  She taught us to have faith in God and to treat people with respect.  Ellen was a very hard worker, always being an example for a work ethic that was honorable.  Not only did she raise her four children, but she also was the owner/operator of Ellen Mae's Beauty Shop for 60+ years in her home.  She was always doing volunteer work for the American Legion Auxillary, the Freedom Chapter #179, Order of the Eastern Star since 1946, and the First Congregational Church.  Ellen always  tried to find ways to help people.  If her customers were laid up at home, she would go to there home and do their hair for them so that they could feel better.  Several times when a friend was not feeling good, she would make a large pot of homemade soup and take it to their house no matter what the weather.  


In 1983, Ellen and Gene would go their separate ways and Gene passed away September 1, 1985.  At age 60, Ellen decided to go back to school to become a message therapist.  She loved helping people and it was one more way that she could do that. Ellen re-married August 3, 1991 to John B. Gennarino from Oneonta, NY.  John passed away 10 years later.  Ellen continued to work right up until she was hospitalized with Alzheimer's.  She fought the battle hard but fell and broke her hip and her arm and was not able to fight anymore.  The Father in Heaven kept calling to her and she knew it was time to go home.  She was loved by many and will always be remembered as a very kind soul!