CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

Ella Damask Stone

January 30, 1931-December 31, 2023

“Little” Ella was born the youngest of eleven children to Arthur and Ella Damask of Swedesboro, NJ. Growing up she and her brothers and sisters all worked in their father’s business coating and packing chocolate candies for Damask Candies and working summers in their concession stand at River Beach Park in Pennsville. Ella graduated from Swedesboro High School in 1948 and attended Temple University for two years as a Physical Education major.

Ella has two daughters from her first marriage to Wilbert Jones. She enjoyed being involved in their lives. She became a Brownie Girl Scout leader when her daughter joined the Brownies and held various positions through the years, eventually becoming a field vice president for the Holly Trails Girl Scout Council. She was also very involved with the Ladies Altar Guild of the Episcopal Churches in towns where she resided. In her senior years she volunteered with her local hospital, food bank, thrift store, a preschool classroom and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Ella was employed as a school secretary in the Penns Grove-Carneys Point School System and served as the secretary at the Episcopal Church of Our Merciful Savior in Penns Grove.

Ella later married Ellsworth Stone and eventually devoted her time to his care. She then returned to southern Jersey and after a few years moved into the independent Living Cottages at Friends Village, Woodstown. As health problems began to decrease her independence in the last 10 months, she fought back referring to herself as “a tough old Greek” and remained true to her nickname throughout her struggles. Of course, it was probably her upbeat attitude and great sense of humor that kept her popular with all the nurses.
She had a love of the Phillies. Ella was always on the go: some joked her hobby was moving from residence to residence and she danced even through her later years. Her 90th birthday party found her on the dance floor frequently and she loved her “Chrissy” exercise class. She kept her mind sharp playing many a game of pinochle, mahjong, bingo, cryptograms and was always up for some bocci, cornhole, hand and foot and, of course, some fun in the sun on the beach.

Ella was predeceased by her parents Arthur Nicholas and Ella Damask, brothers Nicholas, Constantine, Kimon, Pericles and Theodore; sisters Helen Holligan, Georgia Sarafic, Athena Terry, Evangeline Miller, and Mary Masten; husband Ellsworth Stone, stepdaughter Shelly Butrica, and dear companion Carlton Gardiner.
She is survived by daughters Sandra Jones-Congleton and Jennifer Jones; stepson Ellsworth Stone and wife Susan; stepson-in-law Joseph Butrica; step grandchildren Regan and Julie Stone, Tyler Stone, Michael and Clarissa Butrica and Matthew Butrica; several step great grandchildren and her beloved cat Tinkerbelle.
Come celebrate 92 great years Friday January 12, 11 a.m. to noon at Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro where there will be a noon service. Interment Lake Park Cemetery, Woolwich. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org) or an organization of your choice.