Ellen Nadia Aseel Maroun

Ellen was born Dec. 25, 1939 to Fadwa and Alfred Aseel in Tupper Lake, where she grew up with her sisters Adele, Alfreda, Linda and her brother Alfred.

Wife, mother, grandmother (Sitti), auntie, friend, activist. Ellen’s impact reached far and wide. Her thirst for learning and passion for reading were unmatched and she encouraged others to do the same.

In 1962, Ellen married Camil G. Maroun, Jr. with whom she raised three children, Nadia, Gina and David. It was in the mid 1960s, with the birth of Gina, who was born disabled, that she advocated for and brought services for the developmentally disabled to the region, founding the Franklin County Association for Retarded Children.

Her activism continued to evolve over the years, starting locally and expanding statewide in gubernatorial appointed positions. She co-authored the Bill of Rights for People in Community Residence Settings, which became law in New York state. She worked with families impacted by traumatic brain injury and chaired the Healthcare Association for New York State. She served as president of the Sunmount Board of Visitors and subsequently for the New York State Board of Visitors. Ellen served on the Franklin County Community Services Board; the Adirondack Medical Center Board and she remained a surrogate decision maker for New York state ARC.

As an adviser to the Aseel Legacy Fund, she continued her focus on community by awarding grants to projects that will enhance and improve the Tupper Lake Community, including the Tupper Lake Heritage Trail, Tupper Lake Arts, Wild Center, Sky Center, Little Loggers, the History Museum, and an annual scholarship for nontraditional students wishing to reinvent their future.

Ellen was honored with awards and accolades that celebrated her contributions, including the Governor’s Women of Distinction, the Adirondack Museum Founder’s Award, The Franklin County Liberty Bell Award, and a North Country Citation from St. Lawrence University.

Most of all, Ellen was a force for her family. She believed that you honor your past and you create your future. She led by example, with empathy, determination, selflessness and love. She is survived by her loving husband Camil (JJ) Maroun, Jr.; her children Nadia Maroun-Barkamian (Ardo), Camil David Maroun (Gabriela) and Gina Maroun; her grandchildren Michael Hendry (Hayden), Camil Maroun and Emilio Maroun; great-granddaughter Adeline Hendry; her sister Linda Aseel Kahn (Joe); and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins who adored their Auntie and will carry her legacy forward. She was predeceased by her siblings, John Aseel, Adele Mikesell, Freda Aseel Bradt, Alfred Moneer Aseel and her grandson, Matthew David Hendry.

Calling hours will be held at Frary Funeral Home in Tupper Lake on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. and a Christian Mass at St. Alphonsus Church in Tupper Lake on Monday, Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.

The Maroun family requests that those inclined to make memorial donations direct them to Adirondack ARC at adirondackarc.org or the Tupper Lake Food Pantry at 40 Marion St., Tupper Lake.