Ellen A. Dri

Ellen Antionette Dri 78, of Cumming Georgia passed away on Friday, September 25th, 2020 surrounded by her husband and family in her home.

Daughter of Michael and Frances O'Donnell, she was born on June 20th 1942. She was raised in the Bronx and attended Cathedral High School in Manhattan. She met her husband Fred Dri at the age of 16 when they were set up on a blind date to attend the school dance. Four years later, she was married to Fred on November, 10th 1962. They shared their next 57 years together, building their family side by side.

Ellen attended City College of New York and Long Island University Post where she received her BSN, and later attended Stony Brook University where she received her Masters in Nursing and became a Nurse Practitioner. Ellen devoted her life to others working in the public health sector serving people of all backgrounds. Most notably she helped start a BOCES program aiding pregnant teens, directed a public health center serving over 75,000 people, and ended her career teaching nursing students at Stony Brook and Georgia State University.

She spent the later years of her life in Cumming Georgia, where she enjoyed playing bridge and socializing with her many wonderful friends. She always enjoyed a good game of cards not only for the competition but for the company and community. Ellen never met a stranger and had a special way of connecting with people wherever she went. She was loved by many.

Ellen was a loving mother and grandma who is also survived by her daughter Jeanne Dri Keane; her daughter Ellen Degnan & her husband Michael; her son Fred Dri & his wife Alison; her grandchildren, Kaitlin, Johnny, & Kevin Keane, Ryan, Maggie, & Erin Degnan, Shannon, Ella, Andrew, Daniel, Joshua, Luke, & Sam Dri ; her brother William O'Donnell & his wife Elaine; and many other loving relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 1st, 2020 from 4:00pm-8:00pm at McDonald and Son Funeral Home. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 1:00pm at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and a live stream will be available to watch at https://gsrcc.net/2020/04/03/live-stream-daily-mass/ for those who cannot attend in person. Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886 9899.

In her honor, memorial donations may be made to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, (http://www.choa.org/fightcancer), where three of her grandsons, Andrew, Joshua, and Luke are treated, or to Whispering Hope Women's Resource and Pregnancy Center (http://www.supportwhisperinghope.org).

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899