NORWAY — Ellen Rose Wright Male, 87, of Norway, died peacefully Wednesday, May 20, after an extended illness. Her husband, the Rev. Dr. Henry A. Male, was at her side.

A graduate of William Smith College (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 1950) and a lifelong Episcopalian, she was known for her keen wit and sense of humor and was never at a loss for words.

Ellen was born and raised in Montclair, N.J., the youngest of three children to Arthur and Anna Rose Wright. She lived in New York City with her husband while he completed his seminary study, eventually relocating to St. Mary’s Parish in Keyport, N.J. While pregnant with their first child, Ellen and Henry accepted the care of parentless twin teenagers, Henry and Carol Cleary, who are part of the family today.

Ellen’s personality and activities with the youth at St. Mary’s garnered her the loving nickname of “Mother Male,” which followed her through her life.

For more than 20 years, she taught eighth grade science at Abington Heights Middle School in Clark Summit, Pa., while Henry served the Church of Epiphany in Glenburn, Pa. They retired to Norway in 1993 and lived on a beautiful lake, which was home to Ellen’s beloved loons.

Ellen was predeceased by her daughter, Margaret; her brother, Dr. Thomas Wright; and her sister, Ann Johnson. In addition to Henry, her loving husband of 64 years, she is survived by son, Henry of Fountain Hills, Ariz., his wife, Donna, and their daughter, Katie; son, Mark of Providence, R.I., his wife, Melissa Darigan, and his children, Andrew Male of Newton, Mass., and Ashley Childs of Cumberland, Pa., and her husband, Jim; the twins, Henry “Hank” Cleary of Red Bank, N.J., and his wife, Nadia; and Carol “Pinky” Kubiak of Sun Lake City, Ariz., and her husband, Gordy, and their children, Lisa Kubiak of South Portland and her children, Ruben and Lauren, Chris Kubiak of Canton, Mich., and his wife, Tammy, and their son, Zackary. Ellen also had numerous loving nieces, nephews and their children in her life.

Ellen’s witty personality is best captured by one of her favorite sayings: “I was always Wright until I married and became a Male.”

Copy the Story Link