Cathy Ellis

Cathy Ellis (Morgan) of Mahopac, NY, passed away on November 14, 2022. She was 62 years old. Cathy was born to Charles and Lois Morgan on December 11, 1959, the middle child of five siblings. She grew up in Valley Cottage, NY, and spent her childhood surrounded by neighborhood friends and creating lasting relationships. In her adolescent and teen years, Cathy was active in the Nyack and Valley Cottage communities. She volunteered her time with younger children at the library and the elderly at nursing homes, entertaining them with songs she played on both guitar and piano. In addition, she loved playing sports and other outdoor activities with her siblings and friends.

Cathy graduated with honors from Nyack High School in 1978 and went on to receive her Associates Degree in Sociology from Rockland Community College in 1980. She was a dedicated worker with varying professions. During college she worked at the Valley Cottage Convenient Mart, where she made some of her most lasting friendships. Later she was a manager at McDonalds in Yonkers, NY. She went on to work for Rockland Multiple Listings in Nanuet, NY as an Administrative Assistant, which led to her final career as an IBM Executive Administrative Assistant, where she worked for 25 years.

In 1981, Cathy married Gerard Willock, and later had her only child Lori Ann Willock. In 1986, Cathy began dating the love of her life, Harold Ellis, whom she met at her long time job, the Convenient Mart. On November 6, 1993, Cathy and Harold Married and soon thereafter moved to their new home in Mahopac, NY, where they resided together for 29 years. Together they enjoyed traveling, concerts, sporting events, the beach, hiking, festivals, and a plethora of activities that filled their years with joy and happiness. Her favorite vacations included annual trips to Aruba and various cruises to tropical places. Harold and Cathy had a beautiful relationship and a one in a million bond.

Cathy loved her family with every fiber of her being. If anyone needed her, she was there, no questions asked, no matter the time. Always putting others first, she was an invested friend with so much compassion and empathy. Known as “the great defender”, Cathy always saw the good in people and kept the peace in any situation. She made friends everywhere she went. Additionally, Cathy was a fiercely dedicated mother to her daughter. Lori Ann was her sunshine and the center of her world.

The holidays were made extra special, as Cathy loved hosting Christmas Eve and Easter for her in-laws and niece and nephew. She created a warm and welcoming home filled with scents and sounds of the season, and she was particularly famous for the thousands of cookies she would make and distribute to family, friends, and neighbors every year.

Throughout the years, Cathy maintained a positive outlook on life and truly lived it to its fullest. She loved live music, especially Garth Brooks, a good Yankee or Rangers game, catching a Broadway show, going to festivals and street fairs, and sometimes hitting the slots like her mom. She loved spending time with her sisters in Long Beach Island, NJ, and trips to the Finger Lakes at her brother’s on Lake Seneca. Her happiness and excitement were infectious everywhere she went.

Cathy is predeceased by her parents, Charles and Lois (Madden) Morgan, sister Jeanne (Morgan) Valentine, father-in-law Bernard Ellis, mother-in-law Ruth (Bildner) Ellis, and brothers-in-law David Hoppe and Alex (Babe) Kotsidis.

Cathy is survived by her husband Harold Ellis, daughter Lori Ann Willock, brothers James Morgan (MaryLou) and Richard Morgan (Joyce), sister Lori Morgan, niece Rachel Cooper, brother-in-law Rudolf Ellis (Monica), sisters-in-law Carmen (Ellis) Hoppe and Marion Ellis, nephew Nicholas Kotsidis, and nieces Keri (Ellis) Fritz, Katie (Ellis) Novella, and Natalie Kotsidis, along with godchildren and many beloved family and friends.