THE HOPWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION – December 14, 2002
Ella L. Conn
1912 – 2001
Ella L. (Kermes) Conn was born in Footedale, PA on September 6, 1912 to Albert and Johanna Kermes. Ella had ten (10) siblings; four (4) brothers and six (6) sisters
In 1935, Ella married Harold A. Conn. On March 17, 1939, Ella gave birth to a son, Harold L. Conn.
Ella joined the Hopwood Methodist Church in 1946. She was the proud grandmother of Scott A. Conn, who was born January 27, 1968.
Ella was Scott’s primary baby-sitter and she proudly pushed him around Hopwood in the stroller. Many people got to know Scott because of this and frequently tell him they remember his Grandma taking him everywhere in Hopwood.
Ella was employed by the Union Supply Company, Ray’s Bakers, and Dr. Edwin Kamon. She retired from working for Dr. Kamons in 1968.
During her membership at the Hopwood United Methodist Church, Ella was very active. She served on almost every committee in the church. She was a member of the choir, served as a Sunday School Teacher, served on PPRC, Nominating, Finance, Nurture and Membership, and Age Level Committees. She served as Financial Secretary for over 30 years and worked closely with her friend Bertha Thomas in recording the finances of the church. She and Bertha spent every Monday together working on the finances. Many times she would walk up Bennington Road and then walk back home after she and Bertha finished their work. Ella was Sunday School Superintendent of the children’s department for many years and Youth Counselor for the combined Hopwood-Brownfield Youth Group for several years. Of the many positions she held in the church, Ella found working with the children and youth to be the most rewarding. At one point, Ella went for over 20 years without missing a Sunday of Sunday School and Church.
Ella liked working the fundraisers at the church. She could be found in the kitchen, giving the ladies of the Age Level Committee orders on what to do and how to do it. She was very fond of the ladies she worked with. The ladies on the Age Level affectionately knew her as Granny and her presence has been missed.
Ella was also an active member of the Fayette County Sunday School Association and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Hopwood Fire Department.
Ella loved life and the people of the church. She loved working for the Lord. Even during her illness, she was involved and made many calls for donations for the Mothers’ Day dinners and donations for baked goods for the Bazaar.
Ella Conn was a fixture at the church and is fondly remembered and sadly missed.