Ellen Ann Engel Dunn

Middletown, NY

Ellen Ann Engel Dunn, a beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, passed away on October 22nd after a long health battle, surrounded by her loving family and dear friend. Ellen was born on September 8th, 1958 to her late parents Robert F. Engel and mother, Gertrude Registro Engel. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Dunn, her children Andrea and Christopher, her brother Robert C. Engel and her beloved dog Tyson.

Ellen was a woman whose strength, grace, and compassion touched every life she encountered.  She embodied care in its truest form. As a dedicated physical therapy assistant for 33 years, she helped countless people heal and rediscover their strength. Throughout her career, Ellen worked at various facilities with the most recent being Valley View Nursing Home.  She also served as the Liaison for SUNY Orange Physical Therapy Assistant Program.  Later in life, her desire to help others led her to pursue continuing education in reflexology, a reflection of her lifelong belief in the body’s power to heal and the spirit’s power to endure.

She was a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a steadfast friend.  Her love for her children was at the center of everything she did.  Whether serving as class mom for two years or as a Girl Scout Co-leader, she poured her heart into every moment.  Her kindness and generosity touched not only her own children but the hearts of so many others.  

In her later years, even as her own health challenges grew, she faced each day with courage and gratitude. Her life became centered on what mattered most—her family, her friends, and the time they shared together. She refused to let illness define her, instead living with quiet determination and an unshakable will to make every moment meaningful.

She was also deeply devoted to helping others beyond her own circle. She found community, friendship, and a shared purpose in spreading awareness about organ donation, drawn from her own remarkable journey as a lung transplant recipient 17 years ago.   Her volunteer work with Donate Life and LiveOn NY Foundation spoke volumes about her generous spirit and belief in the gift of life.  Though her time here has ended, her light continues to shine through the people she loved and the countless lives she touched. Her legacy is one of resilience, compassion, and an unwavering faith in the goodness of life, even in the face of hardship.  She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at William M. Gagan Funeral Home located at 1525 Burlingham Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566.  A service will take place at the funeral home on Friday October, 31st at 11 a.m.  and move graveside immediately after to New Prospect Cemetery located at 2964 NY-52, Pine Bush, NY. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ellen’s memory to LiveOn NY Foundation. (LiveOnNY.org)