Ellen Rabbitt
December 27, 1921 — January 1, 2017
Ellen A. Rabbitt (nee Mayhew), age 95, formerly of Mt. Airy, MD, a resident at Homewood of Crumland Farms in Frederick, died Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Homewood of Crumland Farms, Frederick, MD.
She was born December 27, 1921 in Washington, DC, the daughter of the late Joseph A. Mayhew. He raised her and her three brothers and one sister after her mother, the late Honora McLane Mayhew, died when Ellen was only 11 years old.
She grew up in D.C., where her father was the D.C. Fire Chief for many years. In her working years, Ellen was a cosmetologist, demonstrating and selling cosmetics and skin care products in several different drugstores. She enjoyed life. Some of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her their “funny grandma” because of her sense of humor and good nature. Everyone knew she liked daisies and rabbits (even before she married a Rabbitt), so they gave her lots of clothes and knick-knacks with those on them. And she loved to eat—especially Maryland steamed crabs and ice cream. She also valued the Irish heritage that she shared with each of her husbands and traveled to Ireland several times.
Ellen out-lived three husbands: William G. Maguire, Neal McKay, and George Rabbitt. She lived with them in Greenbelt, North Beach, Lanham, and Columbia, Maryland; and in North Port and Spring Hill, Florida. After George Rabbitt died in 1995, she lived in a retirement community in Mt. Airy, MD. She had lived at Homewood since July 2011.
She is survived by three of her four children: Ellen (Stanley) Doolittle, of Myrtle Beach, SC; William Maguire and his wife Carlotta Joyner, of Middletown, MD; and Gerald (Deborah) Maguire, of Myersville, MD. Her daughter Carol Ann died in 1986. She is also survived by five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by all of her siblings, and grandson Thomas Doolittle; though several nieces and nephews survive.
Friends may call at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, PA on Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM; where Catholic Prayers will be held at 11:00 AM with Fr. Michael Ruane from St. Michaels R.C. Church in Mt. Airy officiating.
Interment Pine Grove Cemetery, Mt. Airy, MD
Memorial Contributions can be made to: American Cancer Society https://donate3.cancer.org and or Homewood Foundation, P.O. Box 250, Williamsport, MD 21795.
Arrangements made by: Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, PA online condolences to www.burrier-queen.com
She was born December 27, 1921 in Washington, DC, the daughter of the late Joseph A. Mayhew. He raised her and her three brothers and one sister after her mother, the late Honora McLane Mayhew, died when Ellen was only 11 years old.
She grew up in D.C., where her father was the D.C. Fire Chief for many years. In her working years, Ellen was a cosmetologist, demonstrating and selling cosmetics and skin care products in several different drugstores. She enjoyed life. Some of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her their “funny grandma” because of her sense of humor and good nature. Everyone knew she liked daisies and rabbits (even before she married a Rabbitt), so they gave her lots of clothes and knick-knacks with those on them. And she loved to eat—especially Maryland steamed crabs and ice cream. She also valued the Irish heritage that she shared with each of her husbands and traveled to Ireland several times.
Ellen out-lived three husbands: William G. Maguire, Neal McKay, and George Rabbitt. She lived with them in Greenbelt, North Beach, Lanham, and Columbia, Maryland; and in North Port and Spring Hill, Florida. After George Rabbitt died in 1995, she lived in a retirement community in Mt. Airy, MD. She had lived at Homewood since July 2011.
She is survived by three of her four children: Ellen (Stanley) Doolittle, of Myrtle Beach, SC; William Maguire and his wife Carlotta Joyner, of Middletown, MD; and Gerald (Deborah) Maguire, of Myersville, MD. Her daughter Carol Ann died in 1986. She is also survived by five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by all of her siblings, and grandson Thomas Doolittle; though several nieces and nephews survive.
Friends may call at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, PA on Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM; where Catholic Prayers will be held at 11:00 AM with Fr. Michael Ruane from St. Michaels R.C. Church in Mt. Airy officiating.
Interment Pine Grove Cemetery, Mt. Airy, MD
Memorial Contributions can be made to: American Cancer Society https://donate3.cancer.org and or Homewood Foundation, P.O. Box 250, Williamsport, MD 21795.
Arrangements made by: Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, PA online condolences to www.burrier-queen.com
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