Mary Ellen (Woods) Williams

Mary Ellen Williams, 93, went peacefully to be with our Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 6,  2021, in Boca Raton, FL surrounded by her adoring family. 

She was born on December 25th, 1927 in Sewickley, PA to Frances Kiskaddon Woods and  Robert Medill Woods.  

After graduating from nursing school, she met the love of her life, a dashing young Resident at  Presbyterian St Luke Hospital in Chicago, IL. She married John Irving Williams, MD on  September 15, 1951. When John’s residency was completed, they moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL  in 1955. 

During Mary Ellen’s 45 years in Ft. Lauderdale, she contributed greatly to the community. She  was President of the Children’s Opportunity Group, President of the Holy Cross Hospital  Auxiliary, an Elder at Second Presbyterian Church, Sunday School teacher, Girl Scout, Cub  Scout and Boy Scout Leader, PTA President and a dear and thoughtful friend to many. She was a  consummate entertainer, an avid bridge player and loved to golf. Her greatest passion was that of  being a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and adoring great-grandmother. She  moved to Boca Raton in 1997 and spent the summers in Lake Toxaway, NC. She cherished her  time in the mountains and the friends she made in Lake Toxaway Country Club. In Boca Raton,  she became an active member of Grace Community Church and St. Andrews Estates. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, John Williams, her brothers Robert  Medill Woods, Jr and Thomas Woods II, and her parents. She is survived by her five children:  Barbara (Doug) Hill, Michael (Theresa) Williams, Julia (Tom) Buser, John (Jennie) Williams,  David (Paige) Williams: fourteen grandchildren; Tyler and Graham (Alyson) Hill, Kirsten Hill  Kesicki (Paul); Andrea Williams Hart (Alex), Michael (Stacy) Williams, Matthew (Christie)  Williams; Lindsay Buser Albrecht (Chris), Emily Buser Weeks (Ryan), Griffin (Morgan) Buser;  John Williams III, Jamie Williams Johnson (Jordan), Danielle Williams; Ryan and Logan  Williams: twenty great-grandchildren; Aisley, Tyler and Warren Hill, Adelaide Ellen and  Corinne Kesicki, Brady, Emery, Landry and Audrey Hart, Preston, Cameron, Amelia and Raelyn  Williams, Jackson and Madison Albrecht, Caroline and Caden Weeks, Micah, Theodore and  Lennon Johnson. She is also survived by her brother, Col. David McCann Woods, her sisters-in law; Barbara and Eileen Woods and Mary Williams Stephens; and her adored nieces and  nephews.  

Mary Ellen's steadfast love, admirable resiliency, perpetual optimism and love for life will  continue to inspire all who knew her. Regrettably, due to the pandemic, private services will be  held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Community Church  Foundation, 600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33486 or to ACTS Legacy Foundation, in care  of St Andrews Estates, 6045 Verde Trail S, Boca Raton, FL 33433.

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