Obituary of Ellen Kirch

Ellen Gardner Kirch, 74, passed away Monday, January 16th at her home in Basking Ridge following a long and courageous battle with Huntington's Disease. Born in Hamilton, Ohio; Ellen was raised in Caldwell, New Jersey. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School there and from Beaver College, now Arcadia University, in Glenside, Pennsylvania. After college, she was employed as a first grade teacher in the Plainfield, New Jersey school system. Following her marriage, she resided briefly in Columbus, Georgia and at Fort Sam Houston, Texas before moving to Basking Ridge in 1969. A devoted stay at home mom, she truly enjoyed her family and all the challenges and rewards of parenthood. Meals and advice were always freely provided with great affection. Most supportive of her sons, Ellen was their biggest fan at soccer matches, schoolplays, scouting activities, and other community events. A wonderful friend and neighbor, she was ever willing to lend a hand and to help with whatever problem came along. She was a dauntless driver for Meals on Wheels and created the famous Anti Monday Night Football Bridge Club keeping it active for over twenty-five years. Ellen was also a large fan and supporter of local theater. She was publicist, stagehand, producer, set painter, and chorus girl in numerous productions for the Bernardsville Theater Guild and, later, for The New Theater. She is survived by her husband, Edwin "Buck" Kirch of Basking Ridge and by her sons Ned, his wife Susan, and her grandson Trevor all of Albuquerque, New Mexico and by Steven of Greensboro, North Carolina. Ellen is also survived by two brothers, Richard Gardner of The Villages, Florida and John Gardner of Hillsborough, New Jersey. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017, 10:00AM at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 140 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, 505 ath Avenue, Suite 902, NY, NY 10018 or at www.hdsa.org. For further information please contact Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, or to light an online condolence candle please visit our website at www.gcfuneralhome.com