Ellen (Weber) Banks, 72 years of age, of Bloomfield, CT and New York City, beloved wife of Morris W. Banks died February 20, 2014 after a courageous two year battle with cancer. Ellen was born in New York City on December 2, 1941, the only daughter of the late Estelle F. and Louis M. Weber. She attended the Fieldston School in Riverdale, NY and graduated from Brandeis University before returning to New York City where she embarked on her career as a copy editor, first with the American Society of Civil Engineers and then with the Commercial Division of Holt, Rinehart and Winston. It was in the City where she met and married Moe before moving to Hartford in 1965, where she continued her career first with Wilson, Haight and Welch, advertising, and then with the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. Ellen enjoyed traveling, most particularly to her favorite place, London, and especially Wimbledon, not surprising given Ellen’s great love for tennis. Ellen enjoyed many seasons of tennis, first at the Golf Club of Avon and later at the Hartford Tennis Club where she made many treasured friends. Besides Moe, Ellen leaves her wonderful and devoted sons, Jeremy T. Banks and his dear wife, Marcia of Ellington, CT, and Lorin “Mitch” Banks of Arlington, MA. Ellen adored her two beautiful grandchildren, Emma Grace Banks and Andrew Jameson Banks. Ellen was fortunate in not only having a close and devoted family, but also in having many fabulous friends, due to her warmth, sincerity, open, caring and friendly personality, who blessed her final months and weeks with their kindness, visits and phone calls that our family will always appreciate and cherish. The family would also like to offer our gratitude to Doctors Joel Miller and Robert Siegel for their professionalism and friendship while attending to Ellen during her illness. Also we want to express our appreciation to the wonderful and caring staff at Caleb Hitchcock Health Center at Duncaster.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 24, 2014 in the Sanctuary of Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. Interment will follow at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield, CT. Following the interment, the family will receive friends at Beth El Temple. A memorial period (shiva) will be observed Monday and Tuesday at Ellen’s home, 2 Wyndcliffe Park, Bloomfield, from 6:00-8:00 PM. Ellen would have appreciated donations in her memory to Animal Friends of Connecticut, P.O. Box 370306, West Hartford, CT 06137 or Our Companions, P.O. Box 956, Manchester, CT 06045, motivated by her “Star” whom she rescued and who gave her great enjoyment for many years. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Ellen, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.