Elanor "Ellie" Marie Kraft Sanders

Eleanor "Ellie" Marie Kraft Sanders, 83, passed away suddenly March 26, 2024. Born Eleanor Kraft on March 8, 1941, in New York City, New York, she was the daughter of Robert Kraft and Catherine Gerughty of New York, and the sister of Diane Patrone who pre-deceased her. Ellie is survived by her husband, Forrest "Skip" Sanders, two sons, two step-children, three grandchildren and several beloved family members which include: David Pearlman (Kimberly), and children, Airiel, Lindsay, and Cameron, Penfield, NY; Jon Pearlman, Thailand; Chad Sanders, Ithaca, NY; Tiffany Sanders-Callahan (Kevin), Richmond, VA; brother-in-law, Richard Patrone, Jacksonville, Florida; nephew, Rich Patrone, Jacksonville, Florida. Ellie grew up in the Bronx, NY, and found great joy in the laughter brought to her life by her four cousins, Donna, Lynn, Karen, and Raymond. Ellie always felt called to a life of service. Towards that end, she graduated in Nursing from St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City. She subsequently entered Religious Life joining the medical missionary order - Daughter of Mary, Health of the Sick, in upstate New York. Though this was a meaningful experience, she felt pulled in another direction and left after three years, settling in Ithaca, NY. She eventually returned to school after practicing as a nurse for 20 years and became a Nurse Practitioner in addiction, mental health and women's health care. Ellie fulfilled her dream of service throughout her career, beginning with Women's Health in Cortland, NY, as Captain in the Army Reserves for five years, and eventually retiring from Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center in Ovid, NY. A celebration of Ellie's life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the First Congregational Church of Ithaca, 309 Highland Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850. For those unable to attend the service in person, please visit the church's website for access to view the service online. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes of Ithaca, NY or Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center of Ithaca, NY.