Mary Ellen Kramer

ARLINGTON -- Mary Ellen Jennik Kramer was born April 25, 1943, and passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2016. Celebration of Life: The celebration of Mary Ellen's life will begin with visitation at Wade Funeral Home, 2-4 p.m., Sunday, September 18, and will continue with a funeral mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1 p.m., Monday, September 19. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Mary Ellen's favorite cause - the Austin Builta Memorial Scholarship Fund at The Oakridge School, 5900 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington, Texas 76013, or www.theoakridgeschool.org. Mary Ellen was a girl from Racine, Wisconsin - home of the kringle - born to a raucous family of six children, one mother and one accountant. Although her parents named her Mary Ellen, she could easily have been named Joy for her heart was always full of love, adventure, compassion and, yes, joy. She was educated at Holy Angels Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Marquette University; and via 52 years of marriage to Raymond Michael Kramer. Mary Ellen and Raymond fell in love the first time they met, at a Christmas party in December 1962, and married on June 13, 1964. They produced four children of various heights, sizes and sexes and these children proved to be the joy of Mary Ellen's life - even when she had to love them loudly - until these children produced four grandchildren who then became the new joy of her life. Mary Ellen loved too many things to mention, but playing tennis was high on the list, as was off-road racing in her Suburban with four frightened children in the back. She also loved to cook and once or twice she even used a recipe. Mary Ellen also knew pain. She lost a sister when she was 40 years old, a brother when she was 45, a daughter-in-law when she was 46, and a grandson when she was 71. Not even these losses could take away the joy that radiated from her heart. What brought Mary Ellen the most joy was helping others - whether it was loving a little girl she barely knew and mentoring her over the next 20 years, teaching strength and courage to a young woman new to the United States, befriending a neighbor she had just met whose husband died leaving her to raise four children alone, or preparing dozens of engaged couples for the rigors of married life - she gave of herself freely and completely. No, Mary Ellen was not perfect. She was kicked out of the Girl Scouts - twice - once for smoking as a scout and once for drinking as a troop leader, she may or may not have tried to club her husband with a statue of the Buddha, and she may have had too much to drink on an occasion or two, but these slight imperfections only made her devout Catholic light shine more brightly. She was, after all, human. As more than one person has said, Mary Ellen had one of the best souls on the planet, was a blessing to everyone who knew her, and she changed many lives simply by being herself. A complete and utter joy. Survivors: Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Raymond and her brothers Jim, Bill and John and their spouses Sharon, Mary Ann, and Jean; her children Mike and Kelly Kramer, Missy and Melanie Kramer-Lizardi, Sarah and Brian Builta, and Megan and Chris Poulin; her grandchildren Molly, Davis and Anna; and her adopted grandchildren Briana, Tyler and Shane. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233