Obituary of Mary Ellen Ivers

Age 83, of Elmira, formerly of Big Flats, passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. Mary Ellen was born in Larchmont NY a daughter of Henry and Helen (Schermerhorn) Donihee. Mary Ellen was a mother, grandmother, teacher and community volunteer. She was also a summer resident of the Chautauqua Institution, an educational and cultural center on Lake Chautauqua NY. Mary Ellen was a graduate of A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon NY where she served as concert-master of the Mt. Vernon Youth Symphony Orchestra. She continued her education at SUNY at New Paltz earning a Bachelor's Degree then going on to Columbia University Teacher's College. Mary Ellen was an elementary teacher. She did her practice teaching in Chappaqua NY and taught in Eastchester NY. In recent years she served as a docent at the Corning Museum of Glass specializing in contemporary glass. Her work at the museum included hosting and teaching hundreds of area school children. She served on the board of directors of the Elmira Symphony and Choral Society, Corning Painted Post Civic Music Association, was Chaplain for the Chautauqua Bird, Tree, and Garden Club, and was an associate member of the Clionian Literary Circle. Mary Ellen was a volunteer and supporter of many religious, arts, and human services organizations. These included: the Chautauqua Foundation, Chautauqua Opera, Chautauqua Catholic Community, Mount Saviour Monastery, Clemens Center for the Performing Arts, Food Bank of the Southern Tier, and served on the St. Joseph's Hospital Pastoral Care team. Her interests included music, wildflower gardening, bird watching, counseling, theology, and foremost her granddaughters. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband of sixty years, Robert Ivers; son Jim (Kathleen) Ivers, a music performance production manager; and daughter Beth (John R., Jr.) Munro, a painter and community volunteer; and granddaughters, Grace, Isabelle and Alice Munro. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Mary Ellen on Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:00 a.m., Mount Saviour Monastery, 231 Monastery Road, Pine City NY.