Ella Helena Cramer
Ella Helena Cramer, 93, of Buffalo Township, was welcomed into the arms of her Lord on Monday while embraced by family. She was lovingly cared for by her family and the staff and nurses of the Assisted Living at Rosebrook and Gateway Hospice.
Through her life, Ella not only shared grace and kindness to all who knew her, but to so many, she shared her love of music. Singing praises in the church choir began as a young girl in Philadelphia, where her vocal gifts led her to the sound waves of radio in the early 1940s, when she sang to entertain and bolster the spirits of our brave soldiers.
This chapter in Ella's life was colored brightly with the vibrancy of Philly, her work as a bookkeeper, visits to the seashore and music-filled nights of worn out dancing shoes.
Ella was the daughter of the late Alma “Mum Mum” Emmanuelsen Sjoholm and Ernest Sjoholm, and the sister and sister-in-law to the late Alma and Earl Lott and Agnes and Herbert Phillips.
Ella met and married her beloved Don in 1945 and left her big city to begin a new chapter on Cramer's Dairy Farm in Sarver. Ella and Don were blessed with one son, Gary W. Cramer, and one daughter, Linnea J. Cramer Thomas. The family eventually settled and built their life in Freeport.
Through the years, Ella created a full life as a homemaker and was an active member of the Eastern Star. Her love for the Lord enriched her adoration for her church and church family at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was a dedicated member, sharing her gifts of music and teaching Sunday school.
Working as a shop manager of the Grainery at Jardine's was a highlight in her life, as the opportunity harvested many lifelong friendships.
Ella adored her family and time spent with them was always indicative of much laughter over card games, silly teasing and much singing, which her grandchildren and great-grandchildren cherished. She and her husband also loved to travel to Chautauqua Lake in upstate New York and enjoyed road trips to the New England states.
Ella is survived by her son, Gary (Mardell) Cramer, of Mount Lebanon; her daughter, Linnea (Kurt) Thomas of Buffalo Township; two granddaughters, Jennifer (Jayson) Covey of Buffalo Township and Melissa Babyak of Portland, Ore.; her great-grandchildren, Emily and Nathan Covey; her brother-in-law, Harold McGuire; and her nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, sisters and husband, she was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Glenn and Olive Cramer; and her sister-in-law, Virginia Cramer McGuire.
And, as Ella would say, “Period.”
CRAMER — Family and friends of Ella Helena Cramer, who died Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, will be received from 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeport with the Rev. Jocelyn Johnston officiating. Burial will be at the Sarverville Cemetery, Sarver.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, 323 Fifth St., Freeport, PA 16229.To send a condolence visit, www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.
