Elizabeth "Bessie" Gillis

Ithaca: Elizabeth M. (Bess) Gillis, 102, passed away on April 20, 2012 at Beechtree Care Center where she had resided for 2 years. She was born on February 16, 1910 in London, England and was the oldest daughter of Albert and Susanna Long Molowa. Her mother and 2 sisters were separated from their father and lived in Ireland for 5 years due to World War I. The family was reunited in 1920 and moved to Ithaca where they lived on University Avenue. Elizabeth attended Immaculate Conception School and Ithaca High School, and graduated from Cornell University in 1933. She married Paul M. Gillis in 1938. Mr. Gillis passed away in 1958. Prior to her marriage she worked at the Tompkins County Trust Company, but she is probably more remembered for her real estate sales career which she entered around 1960 and continued until she was into her eighties. Throughout her life, she was active with the Immaculate Conception Church. She was a caring person who always seemed to be helping a shut-in with running errands or delivering a hot meal on a regular basis. Like her mother, she loved cooking for her extended family on any occasion and she was an avid reader until her eyesight failed her in later years. Elizabeth was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Paul; and her siblings Albert L. Molowa and Kathleen S. Powers. She is survived by her sister, Mona Miller; her daughters and sons-in-law Mary and Ghaleb Hamadeh of Alameda, CA and Cathy Waller and Ferris Betrus, Jr. of Clinton, NY; her son and daughter-in-law Albert and Sue Gillis of Ithaca; and her son Andrew of Ithaca who was her devoted caregiver and companion in her final years. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ginan (Jon) Henson and Paul Hamadeh in California and Mariah Gillis (Mark Raley) of Baltimore, Maryland; and her great grandchildren Anna and Avery Henson of California and Olive Raley of Maryland; and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to call at Bangs Funeral Home on Wednesday morning from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service commencing at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Tompkins County Library (509 Esty St., Ithaca, NY 14850).