Ellie L. Tunkel, 97,
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ellie Lillie Tunkel, 97, of 41 Biltmore Ave. died on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at home surrounded by her loving family and caregivers.
Born in Rotterdam, N.Y., on May 14, 1918, daughter of Emil Paul and Ellie Sittner Mahsig, she graduated from the former Draper High School there in 1935. She graduated in 1939 from New York State College for Teachers in Albany, N.Y.
Primarily a homemaker, Mrs. Tunkel was first employed at General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y., where she met her husband, Hugo Tunkel.
They were married on Feb. 21, 1942, and got a furnished apartment in Schenectady. Mr. Tunkel was drafted the day they were married and he entered the service that fall. Mrs. Tunkel followed him to San Francisco, where she worked at statistical job at a steel company and where they lived for three years.
Mr. Tunkel saved enough money while in San Francisco to purchase a dry cleaning business in Albany and they returned home after he completed his service in 1946. They bought their first home at 41 Division St. in Schenectady.
Her brother-in-law Alfred Tunkel was managing Joanne's Bakery in North Adams. Her husband and his brother bought the bakery and became business partners. The Tunkels moved to North Adams in 1950 and rented an apartment on the former Bank Street until buying a house on Green River Road in Williamstown, where they lived for 27 years. In 1966, they sold the bakery and retired.
Mrs. Tunkel's parents moved from the state of Florida and bought a house next to them in Williamstown and lived there until they passed away. After retirement, the couple bought a camper and traveled. They went back and forth across America three times. They also took several trips overseas to many countries as well as a couple of cruises. They traveled all over Europe and around the world.
After a rough winter, they moved to Durham, N.C., where they lived for 20 years until Mr. Tunkel's health became bad. In 1997, they moved back to North Adams, purchasing their home on Biltmore Avenue.
Mr. Tunkel died in 1998.
She enjoyed traveling, embroidery, sewing in general, her church and bowling, gardening, loving her two pet companions, Bonnie and Pepe, her beloved dogs, and spending time with family and friends. She was a lifetime animal lover and had many dogs and cats throughout her life.
She leaves her four nieces, Marlene Elia of New York City and Erika Uchman and Helga Berger and her husband, Edward, all of North Adams, and Leslie Sittner; two cousins, Jeannette Coonley and Joan Sherwood; many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; her best friend of many years Helen Fredrick of Durham, N.C., and her sidekick, her beloved cat Smokey.
She was predeceased by a niece, Ingrid Dickey.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Graveside services for Mrs. Tunkel will be held on Monday, July 20, at 2 p.m. at Eastlawn Cemetery in Williamstown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any animal shelter or the Berkshire Humane Society in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.