Mary Ellen Harriman

Mary Ellen Harriman died March 8th of acute heart failure at the age of 92 years, at the home of her daughter, Cynthia (Harriman) Gelman. Mary Ellen was born at home near Birdseye, Indiana, on October 08, 1929, along with her identical twin sister, Amanda Lou (Polen) Roller, to Bertha Mae (Weeks) (Reese) (Polen) Emery and George Samuel Polen.

Mary Ellen’s formative years were spent in Indiana; Birdseye, Brookston, New Albany, and Burnettsville, where she and her sister, Amanda Lou, graduated in 1947 from Burnettsville High School. As with many others growing up during the depression, money was tight, making life arduous. Mary Ellen and her sister were taught a strong work ethic at a very young age. Each worked outside the home obtaining additional income for the family.  Adding to this difficult time, was the death of their father from a surgical complication, when the sisters were age four.

The sisters were always very close and each supported the other in completing their post high school education; Amanda Lou became a beautician, and Mary Ellen, a 1951 graduate of Marion County General Hospital Diploma Nursing Program, became a Registered Nurse. Mary Ellen utilized this education throughout her years of hospital and private duty employment, and when caring for members of her immediate and extended family. On occasion she volunteered to provide care for some of her friends. Her final years of employment were spent on the Post Partum Unit at (IU Health) Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Mary Ellen was introduced to the love of her life, Dale, while visiting the family of her older sister, Ruth. A short time later, Dale captured her heart when he played Debussy’s “Clair De Lune” on the piano. Mary Ellen captured Dale’s heart when he witnessed an interaction she was having with his Grandmother which he considered to be quite special.

Throughout their lives, Mary Ellen and Dale enjoyed assisting their parents, their children, and their grandchildren with whatever was needing to be done. They were long time active members of Wesley United Methodist Church. Both enjoyed touring the country by car, and traveling to Europe for the 45th Celebration of D-Day and to Mexico for a special vacation. Prior to their retirement, Mary Ellen and Dale acquired a second home, in Sarasota, Florida, and upon retirement, proudly became “snow-birds” for many years.

Mary Ellen will be remembered:  as a good student with a love for learning (knowing she was going to nursing school, she studied Latin in high school); for her fondness of history, poetry, reading novels, playing bridge and other card games, and travel; as a “can-do and fearless” person with a very sweet and friendly smile; for her unconditional love of and care for her “sweetie pie” and their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other extended family, and friends; for her special fondness of babies and infants; for her determination that, unlike her, each of her children would learn to swim; and for her delicious homemade noodles, lemon meringue pie, cookies, and pork and sauerkraut.

Mary Ellen is survived by her sister, Amanda Lou; her four children, Susan Collins, Stephen (Kathleen) Harriman, Joseph (Teresa) Harriman, and Cynthia (Joel) Gelman; nine grandchildren, John (Emily) Collins, Brett (Melissa) Collins, William (Beth) Harriman, Shelley (Evan McKalip) Harriman, Joseph Harriman, Cassandra (Alan) Siktberg, Carrie (Matt Fries) Gelman, Sarah Gelman, Daniel (Ashlyn) Gelman; 14 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Ellen was predeceased by her husband, (William) Dale Harriman; her parents; her sisters, Flossie Mae (Reese) Early and Ruth Alberta (Reese) Clevenger; her brother, Charles Orem Reese; and a granddaughter, Rebecca Susan Collins

A memorial service for Mary Ellen (Polen) Harriman will be held at Flanner Buchanan – Washington Park North, 2706 Kessler Blvd W Dr, Indianapolis, July 09, 2022, with visitation at 10:00 AM and service at 11:00 AM.