Obituary of Ellen Ruth Scardena

The world is a sadder place today.  Ellen Ruth, nee Schaefer, Scardena passed away on Thursday, January 26th after an extended battle with cancer.  She was an extraordinary woman.  Born on November 16th, 1951 at West Hudson General Hospital in Kearney, NJ.

Ellen attended and graduated from Livingston High School, and Newark State College where she completed her degree in Education.  Upon graduation Ellen worked as a fourth-grade teacher in Franklin Borough, New Jersey.  During her summers she worked as a teller, alongside her mother Ruth, at Mayflower Savings and Loan.  She left teaching to pursue a full-time career in banking, where she worked her way up the corporate ladder starting with being the manager of the Mayflower Savings Northfield Branch and retired as a First Vice President in sales.  Ellen managed several regions for the bank and oversaw the operation of twenty plus branches.  Her career spanned 40 years and survived the transition from Mayflower Savings to Valley National Bank.  It was at the bank where she met her future husband of 40 years, Stephen.  Shortly after marrying Stephen, they moved to the Lake Arrowhead section of Denville where they raised their two children Scott and Allison.
 
Throughout her lifetime Ellen cultivated many different hobbies and interests which included: reading, knitting, sewing, making jewelry, painting, jigsaw puzzles, collecting any unique bumblebee item, meeting with people both personally and professionally, browsing through the shops of Stone Harbor, and spending time by the beach. Oh and let’s not forget her absolute favorite Harry Potter.  For Ellen Harry Potter wasn’t just a hobby it was a lifestyle.
 
Ellen always wanted to be busy and shortly upon retiring from the Bank, she worked for C3 Workplace. A company that provides business support services to help companies start and grow. Which helped feed her love of people and cultivating a multitude of relationships.
 
People clearly loved Ellen as demonstrated by the multitude of texts, emails, cards, flowers, and calls we have received throughout her illness.  It has been nothing less than overwhelming.  Well done Ellen.  Ellen saw the good in everyone, she will surely be missed.

Ellen is predeceased by her grandmother Helen Schaefer (who lived with her growing up), her father Robert August Schaefer, her mother Ruth (Carlson) Schaefer.  Her in-laws, Joseph Leonard and Carolyn Marie ‘Connie’ (Doyle) Scardena, who loved her as a daughter.
She is survived by her husband Stephen, who is heartbroken, her son Scott Alan (Courtney) and 8 month old grandson, Owen Lynn who brightened these past few months; her daughter Allison Marie (Colin) Daugherty; and her brother Rev. Alan R. Schaefer.
 
Ellen requested no wake.  There will be a memorial service, honoring her, at the First Presbyterian Church of Boonton; where she has been a faithful member, officer, choir singer, and committee member for 30 years. The service will be on February 11th, 2023 at 11 am with family visitation prior to service from 10 am – 11 am.  (513 Birch Street, Boonton NJ 07005)
www.normandean.com

Memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. https://www.bcrf.org/