Mary Ellen Oppelt

Mary Ellen Oppelt, 79, died peacefully at Strong Memorial Hospital’s Palliative care unit on Monday, June 23, 2025 after a year+ battle with cancer.  She spent her last days in hospice care surrounded by family.  

Mary Ellen is survived by her son Shaune (Michelle), daughter Kimberly Draiblate (Yoni); 5 grandchildren (Dillan, Kiera, Donovan, Jonathan and Benjamin); brothers, James LaDuke, Thomas LaDuke and Ronald LaDuke (Nora); sister’s in law Rosemarie Oppelt and Ann LaDuke and many other loving family members including 13 nieces/nephews.  

Mary Ellen is pre-deceased by Peter Oppelt (husband), Louis LaDuke (father), Irene LaDuke (mother), Walter and Eleanor Oppelt (in-laws), Francis LaDuke (brother), James Oppelt (brother in law) and Cheryl Barbieri (niece).  

Mary Ellen was born in Potsdam, NY where she spent her childhood years through college.  She graduated from Potsdam High School in 1964 and later graduated from SUNY Canton in 1966 with a degree in food services administration.  During her time at Canton, she met and fell in love with her husband Peter Oppelt.  They were married in 1967 and moved to the Rochester, NY area to begin their lives together.  Mary Ellen spent the first part of her adult life working at Hill Haven Nursing home before deciding to quit her job in 1983 in order to stay at home with her two young children.  After spending years attending to the needs of her family, Mary Ellen rejoined the workforce in 1990 as the food services manager at Greece Arcadia High School.  She worked for Greece Central for 29 years before she retired in 2019.  During her time at Greece Central she was a key member of the union leadership team that served many of those employed by the district.  Mary Ellen loved spending time with her family including spending many years on the road supporting her children’s passions of hockey and dance.  She also enjoyed time at the family cottage in Honeoye, traveling, reading books and playing card games.  She will forever be missed, loved and remembered.  

Friends may call Friday (June 27th) 4-7 PM at Vay-Schleich & Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday (June 28th) 9:30 AM at Our Mother of Sorrows Church, Greece. Her burial will follow in White Haven Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in her memory.