Obituary of Elsie May Rudd

ELSIEMAY ("Ellie") AGNEW RUDD OF ROME, NEW YORK AND BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA

   If only one word was allowed to describe the essence of Elsie May Agnew Rudd, it would be "others".   She always had her family, friends and those in need in the forefront of her mind, her heart, and her actions.  That old expression "behind a good man is always a good woman" is definitely applicable in regards to Ellie, as she was the wife and partner for 62 years of the late Reverend Charles A (Chuck) Rudd who passed away in 2017. She met Chuck at a Salvation Army summer camp for children where Ellie was a lifeguard and Chuck a counselor. She greeted parishioners at church; sang beautifully with the choir, listened to and empathized with the needs of her fellow church parishioners in Madrid, Parish, Hamilton, Rome, Richfield Springs, Whitesboro, and Vernon/Lairdsville in central New York state.  Elsie May passed away in Brooksville, Florida on March 1, 2023, at the age of 91.

   Elsie May was an accomplished singer, a great storyteller and loved to jump the ocean waves.  She was always game to wear crazy party hats on her birthday and perform with the Rome Community theater as well as other local theaters.  Her favorite role on stage was as portraying an inebriated women thinking she might shock some of the elder ladies from the church, which she did!

   Elsie May was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 6, 1932, and grew up in St. Albans, Long Island as the daughter of the late May and Fletcher Agnew, both officers in the Salvation Army. She attended Queens College in New York and received her BA from Baldwin Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio. After college she was a social worker and later worked at Bassett Healthcare Hospital in Cooperstown, NY and Blue Cross Blue Shield in Utica, NY.

   She will be sorely missed by many, including her son Mark and wife Theresa Rudd of Tiverton, RI and her daughter Ruth Rudd Hilts and Richard Hilts of Brooksville, FL and Mohawk, NY;  as well as her granddaughter Mary Elsie Rudd and grandson Charles B (Charley) Rudd of RI and her brother Jack Agnew of Key West, FL; her nieces Meaghan and Zoe Agnew of Boston and nephews Kerry (Sherry) Kerstetter and Kris (Shannon) Kerstetter of California.  And last but definitely not least, Ellie's cousin ("sister") 92-year-old Eljeane Gibson of St. Petersburg, Florida.

    Calling hours will be held at Strong-Burns & Spock Funeral Home 7715 Merrick Road in Rome, NY Friday, March 24, 2023, from 3 to 6 PM.

   A Celebration of Life will be at the Delta United Methodist Church 6285 Hawkins Corner Road in Rome, NY.  on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11 AM. There will be a luncheon immediately following the funeral service in the church hall.

   Burial will take place later this spring at the Rome Cemetery, alongside Rev. Charles Rudd and her late son, Steve Rudd.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Delta United Methodist Church would be appreciated.

RIP Ellie.