Elinor Basso

Elinor "Ellie" Marie Basso, 88 of Watertown peacefully went Home to Glory, on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 at her home.

Elinor was born November 28, 1928, in Syracuse, New York the daughter of Frank Mercer and Lylla M. (Smith) Gulland. She became a Christian later in life after reading a biblical pamphlet given to her father and discussing with him what it meant to her. She was active in ballet, park activities, and community service. She graduated from Valley High School in 1946. During high school, Ellie worked at the Cottage Bakery in Syracuse. After high school, she worked for the Syracuse Board of Education as secretary to the superintendent. August 19, 1950, she married Carlo Luigi Basso and moved into the home that she and Carl built together in Solvay, New York. Together they reared their two sons, Thomas Frank and Carl Scott, and their daughter, Cynthia Marie. In addition, Ellie provided care for Carl's mother Maria and in later years for her mother and father. During these years, she was active in scouting, running her church's nursery and teaching Sunday school or Wednesday night class, setting up communion, as well as serving on the church's mission committee. While rearing her family, she worked at Solvay High School in the cafeteria and later as a teacher's aide at Solvay Elementary School, from which she retired after putting her children through college.

Upon the death of her husband, Ellie moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, in order to live closer to her daughter. She was an active member of Fellowship Baptist Church mending hymnals and maintaining the garden, participating in activities with other seniors at the Watertown Community Center and the Briarwood Apartment complex, providing hospitality and financial support to students and the families of Maranatha Baptist University, donating her blood to the Red Cross, doing light clerical work part-time at Bethesda Homes, and serving the City of Watertown during elections.

In 2010, she moved into her daughter's home. Ellie still remained active with the aid of faithful companions who assisted her in knitting baby hats donated to her church's nursery ministry and doing little projects for the church. She sought to encourage others with her gratitude for the love and care that each companion, doctor, nurse, physical therapist or aide provided during her senior years. Dementia gradually caused Elinor to let go of this world for her heavenly Home.

Those left to honor the memory of Elinor include her sisters, Ruth Watkins and Gretta Allen, and her children and their spouses, Tom and Brenda Basso, Carl and Lucinda Basso, and Cynthia Stratford, as well as all the family and friends who have been touched by her life.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 AM on Tuesday Oct. 3, 2017 at Fellowship Baptist Church with Rev. Chad Prigge presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service. Burial will be in Oakwood-Morningside Cemetery in Syracuse, NY.

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