Obituary of Mary Ellen Gale

Mary Ellen Gale died peacefully at Heritage House (the Eddy), Troy, NY, on 22 February 2023 after a lengthy illness that she faced courageously.  She was born at home on the family farm on the Gaspé peninsula, Quebec, Canada, on 21 December 1932 to Harry and Bessie Dimock.  She attended New Richmond High School, New Carlisle High School, and then MacDonald College of McGill University, where she graduated in 1952 with a teaching certificate.  She taught school until 1954, when she married Cecil Tozer, and they moved to Burnt Hills, NY.  Two children, Patricia and Steve, followed.  She worked for Schenectady Savings and Loan, which she left to serve as an executive secretary and paralegal for attorneys Anthony Conde and Mary Coffin, and eventually Richard Antocol, retiring in 1994 due to being diagnosed with CML.  She always believed her retirement came too soon.

Mary Ellen married Raymond N. Gale on March 30, 1984.  Their marriage brought her great joy and three beloved step-children, Sue, Lin, and Chip.  She was actively involved at First Presbyterian Church, Schenectady, volunteered at Proctors Theater for over thirty years, and served as a chaplain’s aide at Ellis Hospital.  She loved all things green and growing, from house plants and garden vegetables to her beloved dahlias.  She was known for her fierce determination (her nickname as a young child was “Me Can”), her strong work ethic, and her love for natural beauty, especially if she could grow it.  She was a serious Christian, too.

Mary Ellen’s final years were challenging, including many months in a nursing facility, enduring the isolation brought on by the COVID pandemic. There were people in her life who did their best to bring her joy throughout - from window visits to outdoor visits and everything they could conjure up. Her son Steve & Toni, Susan and Shelby & Nick provided constant weekly support. Her days were bolstered by visits from her cherished friend, Julie Tama, and the many beloved friends she had made at First Presbyterian. Yet there was nothing that lit up her life more than a visit from her daughter Pat from Spokane, WA or her niece Jill Renault from Pembroke, ON. 

She was preceded in death by her sister, Evelyne Woollerton (late Greydon), and brother, James Dimock (Jackie), a grandson, Nathan Burgess, and her husband, Raymond N. Gale, who died in 2011.  She is survived by daughter Patricia Sittser (Jerry), son Steve Tozer (Antoinette), step-children Susan Gale (Steve), Lin Gale, Chip Gale (Janelle), grandchildren Morgan Zaro (Brian), Taylor Hartanov (Mike), Rebecca Tozer, Raymond Tozer (Maria), Samantha Ruppenthal (Jason), Shelby Ruppenthal (Nick), Henry Gale, and Eva Gale, and six great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are welcomed to the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd. on Saturday, March 25th from 1 to 2 PM for visitation. Funeral Services will follow at 2 PM. Committal service and burial will be held at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery on Monday, March 27th at 12 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Capital City Rescue Mission, 259 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202. Online condolences may be made at glenvillefuneralhome.com