With great sadness, we share the passing of Ella Mae Holub (née Simmons), age 89, on December 27, 2024. Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland to the late Clyde A. and Anna J. Simmons, Ella Mae was the youngest of two children. She was pre-deceased by her sister Dorothy Leigh Jones (“Dot”) whom she adored.

As a 1953 Bel Air High School graduate, she began a secretarial career at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). In 1965, she married and became a full-time homemaker and mother. She lovingly raised her sons Patrick (Anne), Richard (Vickie), David, and Norman (dec’d 1968). During her sons’ elementary school years, she worked for the school district to support her household. She later resumed work at APG where she finished her career as administrative support to the executive officers and post commander. She efficiently ran and organized her APG office until her retirement in 1997. Afterward, she dedicated herself to her mother Anna’s care and later relocated to Melbourne, Florida.

Ella was a force of nature with a life centered on her faith and family. She was an active and dedicated member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen and Advent Lutheran Church in Melbourne. Through church, she volunteered for a variety of charitable organizations. As a single mom, she prioritized raising her sons as well-educated men of strong character, worked full-time, and always provided delicious, hearty, home-cooked meals to her family. Her extended family treasures her neatly typed recipe cards. She expressed her greatest accomplishment was supporting and encouraging her sons to attain their university degrees. Her children and grandchildren all inherited her tremendous affection for animals.

She will be fondly remembered for her striking white hair and red lipstick “smooches”. She bestowed many smooches on her five grandchildren, Michelle (Stephen), Mark (Lucy), Nicholas (Ally), Matthew, and Bethany, and grand-dogs. Her love extended to her great-grandchildren Sophia, Robert, Ella Kate, Addison, Athena (dec’d 2022) and Jace, and her nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is planned for January 24, 2025, at Advent Lutheran Church, (7550 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940). In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), Advent Lutheran Church Food Pantry, or your local Humane Society.