Ellen McKernan Williamson

Visitation: Thursday 2-4:30 and 7-9:30 p.m. at our West Sayville location (245 Montauk Hwy West Sayville, NY 11796).

Funeral Mass: Friday January 29th 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence the Martyr RC Church in Sayville.

Interment to follow at the parish cemetery (Located on Lakeland Avenue 1/4 south of Sunrise Hwy).

            Williamson-Ellen Delphine McKernan., age 87, of Sayville, NY, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 23, 2016.

                Ellen was born in Marine Park, Brooklyn on April 20th, 1928 to the late Joseph and Margaret (Graham) McKernan.  Raised in Holbrook, NY, she graduated from Sayville High School in 1944 at the top of her class.  Ellen graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia in 1948 with a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry.  On February 14th, 1953, Ellen married John Schenck Williamson of Sayville, NY.

                Although she was ahead of her time working as both a laboratory and patent chemist for National Dairy and National Starch, Ellen found her calling as high school teacher and guidance counselor at Sachem High School.  For over 35 years, she was known for her unrelenting encouragement.  She turned many young lives around and helped thousands of students gain admittance to the college of their dreams.  After retirement, Ellen loved to play bridge, golf, walk the beaches of Montauk, and spoil her five grandchildren.

                Ellen’s life was guided by a strong faith and a terrific sense of humor.  She loved her three children dearly and supported their many endeavors.  There was nothing she wouldn’t do for them and they all have enjoyed successful careers.

                Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her brothers Joseph McKernan and James Graham McKernan.  She is survived by her brother Peter McKernan, of Los Angeles, CA, her sister, Margaret (Peggy) Pfeifer, of Greenville, IN, children Ellen Williamson; Jack Williamson, his wife Libby, and their children Katie, Jack, and Sam; and Gretchen Crowley, her husband Jonathan, and their children Paige and Matthew. 

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