Obituary of Ellen-Rochford Brophy

VOORHEESVILLE Ellen Rochford Brophy, 75, of Voorheesville, died Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at Community Hospice of Albany in St. Peters Hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. Brophy was born in Brasher Falls, N.Y., the daughter of Cate and Bill Rochford. She received bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from the State University of New York at Albany. She was a member of the faculty at Mexico High School, Mexico, N.Y. for two years, and at the Catskill High School, Catskill, N.Y. for three years. She was employed for two years in Morocco by a contractor building USAF air strips, and later was employed for 31 years by the New York State Department of Labor in Albany as chief of internal security. Mrs. Brophy was a communicant of Christ the King Church in Guilderland, and was an avid golfer, swimmer, and bridge player. Ellen hosted a reunion of her sorority, Chi-Sig, at her home every year without fail from 1948 through 2002. Ellen had the rare ability to touch everyones heart. Much beloved, Ellen will be sorely missed by a host of family and friends. Mrs. Brophy is survived by her husband John J. Brophy, whom she married in 1978; her five stepchildren, Mary Quell of Colonie, Regina Dunn of Colonie, Dan and John R. Brophy of Watervliet, and Thomas Brophy of Santa Fe, Nev.; her brothers, William Rochford of Burlington, Vt. and Joseph Rochford of Cincinnati, Ohio; and by several nieces and nephews, eleven great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Friday morning at 9:30, and 10:30 in the Church of Christ the King, Sumter Ave., Guilderland. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Thursday from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The parish family of Christ the King Church will gather at 3 p.m. for a service of prayer and remembrance. All are welcome. Interment will be in St. Patricks Cemetery, Brasher Falls, N.Y. in the spring.