Mary Ellen Sandford

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Mary Ellen Sandford (nee Sheldon) was called to be at peace at the Lord’s side on September 25, 2024, in Columbus, OH. She peacefully passed away surrounded by family.

Born April 28, 1951, in Cambridge, MA, Mary Ellen is survived by her husband of more than 48 years, Rick (Richard Wayne); three children, Kerry Ann (Jason) Gillespie, Christopher Richard, and Mary Kate Gaebel; seven grandchildren, Colin Richard, Caitlin Mariel, Amelia Louise, and Everly Ann Gillespie and Gabriel Riley, Asher Owyn, and Mila Emmanuelle Sandford; brother, Paul Sheldon, and sister, Martha Glinski. Her parents, John M. and Mary Louise (O’Leary) Sheldon, and beloved fur babies Monita, Mei-Ling, and Tuffy, preceded Mary Ellen in death.

Mae El, as her father called her, grew up in Braintree, MA, the youngest of her siblings. She was a swimmer and field hockey player, an in-demand babysitter, and worked as a bagger/cashier at Stop & Shop. Upon her graduation from Braintree High School, she attended Bridgewater State College, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelors of Science in education, before working as a 5th grade elementary school teacher and then a middle school science teacher. Her teaching years were marked by her kindness, creativity, and capacity to instill a love of science in all her students.

While teaching in New London, CT, Mary Ellen met a handsome Coast Guard Academy cadet, Rick. Following a classic New England marriage proposal at Plymouth Rock in 1975, the patriotic couple were married in a bicentennial ceremony in 1976. The family priest who officiated the wedding, Father Thomas Wyndham, was quite shocked as the famously punctual bride arrived on time after he advised the groom that brides are always late. The service was held at St. Clare Parish in Braintree, with the reception held at the Sheraton Tara.

In full support of her husband’s military and professional piloting career, Mary Ellen moved around the country many times, including to Pensacola, FL, San Diego, CA, Puerto Rico, San Diego again, and finally to Gahanna, OH.

Mary Ellen was a mother who always devoted herself to her children, supporting their numerous extracurricular activities including sports, music, scouting, and church. She wholeheartedly participated in their events, driving them to their endless activities, selling Girl Scout cookies with Kerry and Katie, rooting for Chris on the sidelines of the baseball field, assisting in their countless school projects, and more. Of course, Mary Ellen adored and spoiled her human grandchildren, and her eyes lit up with pride in her final years just to see their faces or hear their voices. To her furball grandchildren, she would often be caught sneaking treats and human food, though she’d deny it.

Although her family was her priority, Mary Ellen pursued additional interests including crafting, selling Avon, and part-time roles with the City of Gahanna and AAA. Her career at AAA allowed her to share her passion for travel with hundreds of people in Central Ohio.

Mary Ellen, a devout Catholic, never missed weekly Mass or Holy Days of Obligation. She made a conscious effort to better the lives of others, both human and animal. She adopted rescue dogs, and instilled that same care and love for animals in her children and grandchildren. She also generously donated to charitable causes she believed in, including the Holy Family Catholic Church Food Pantry, the Humane Society, and the ASPCA.

Mary Ellen, or Grammy to her grandchildren, will always be remembered by her family for her generous spirit, her swift ability to make friends as she never met a stranger, and her willingness to drop everything for a trip to get her favorite ice cream or Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and donuts.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 4 to 7 PM at Schoedinger Northeast, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd, Gahanna, Ohio. A Mass of Catholic Burial will follow on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, beginning at 11 AM. Mary Ellen will be laid to rest with a private family burial at Dayton National Cemetery on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Central Ohio Hospice for their exceptional care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ellen’s name to Central Ohio Hospice at https://www.ohioshospice.org/give/.