Loving mother, grandmother and friend Ellen-Marie Corby, 77, died peacefully June 26, 2024. Ellen will be reunited with her husband of 56 years, Robert A. Corby, who died in November 2023.
Ellen began her journey as a city gal from New York City before moving to the Bayshore area of New Jersey at 13. Living in East Keansburg (now North Middletown) she started a lifetime friendship with a group named “The Shackers.”
One of those Shackers – Robert Corby – asked her on a date to Joe’s Candy Store when she was 15 years old. Ellen-Marie and Robert married in November 1967 and made their home in Keansburg where they resided for over 40 years, eventually retiring to Lewes, Delaware.
Ellen-Marie and Robert had three children, Robert S. Corby, Christina M. Corby Flanagan and Michael A. Corby, and five grandchildren, Zachary, Ashleigh, Megan, Matthew and Jake Corby. Ellen-Marie welcomed two daughters-in-law, Monique (Bucholtz) Corby and Maureen (Liona) Corby, and a son-in-law Edward Flanagan, into her family.
Ellen-Marie graduated from Middletown High School (now Middletown High School North) and held several jobs throughout her life. Most recently, she was a medical secretary for Dr. Shahid W. Farooqui in Shrewsbury. She was also a proud member of St. Ann’s Church in Keansburg where she volunteered as a class mom and a soccer coach and worked bingos for the school.
Ellen-Marie was an avid bingo player and enjoyed schooling her kids and grandkids in various card games, especially Yahtzee! Being with her family and friends brought her much joy. She would always remember everyone’s birthday or anniversary and send cards and telephone calls (sometimes text messages). She used these dates as her “numbers” in the lottery.
While Ellen will be greatly missed, her family and friends take solace in knowing she is at peace.
Visitation was June 30 at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral Mass was held July 1 at St. Ann’s Church, Keansburg.
Her final resting place will be at Bay View Cemetery in the Leonardo section of Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the June 27 – July 3, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
