Ellen M. SerpicoAGE: 89 • Spray BeachEllen M. Serpico, 89, of Spray Beach NJ, passed away on February 27 at SOCH in Manahawkin, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.Ellen was born on October 7, 1927 in Philadelphia to William and Catherine Mannix. She and her brother Bill grew up in Spray Beach and attended Beach Haven Elementary School and Barnegat High School. Ellen studied Marketing and English at Temple University where she graduated in 1949 and met her husband Tom. They were married in October, 1952 in Philadelphia and settled in Mount Ephraim, NJ.After the untimely death of her husband, Tom Serpico in 1959, she moved back to Spray Beach and raised her four children; Thomas, Susan, Timothy and Theresa.She worked for 25 years for the Long Beach Township Police Department. She loved working with the police officers and municipal officials and made many life-long friends at the township.Ellen was active in the community and volunteered for many school and church activities. She was a member of the St. Francis and St. Thomas parishes in Brant Beach and Beach Haven and served as a catechist for the Church and volunteered for many church activities. Ellen volunteered as a poll worker at Long Beach Township for over 20 years.Despite what was, at times, a very challenging life, Ellen never lost her wonderful sense of humor and her ability to make everyone laugh and smile. She loved the beach, animals, movies, traveling, Christmas, gardening, cooking, politics and trips to Atlantic City.The past 25 years were spent enjoying her six grandchildren, Michelle, Christopher, Caitlin, Ryan, Sean and Anthony and this year she met her first great-granddaughter, Molly Mae.She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, her daughter Susie, her brother Bill and her parents Catherine and William Mannix.A Memorial Mass will be held on March 14, 2017, 11am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Brant Beach, NJ.In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to Special Olympics of New Jersey at http://www.sonj.org/For directions and online condolences, please visit www.maxwelltobieFH.com.