Mary Elizabeth Wells, Audubon native, 93

Mary Elizabeth Wells, 93, who was born and raised in Audubon and later lived in Deptford, died Sunday, June 22, of complications from Alzheimer's disease at Navarro Regional Hospital in Corsicana, Texas, where she had moved 18 years ago.

"She said she had watched her grandchildren here grow up," said daughter-in-law Kim Wells of Audubon. "Now she wanted to watch her grandchildren in Texas grow up."

A graduate of Audubon High School, she was a longtime member of the Audubon All-Girl Drum and Bugle Corps, known universally as the Bon-Bons, and of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Haddon Heights.

She worked briefly at RCA in Camden, where her husband, Ernest E. Wells, who died in 1973, was employed for most of his life. She then became a stay-at-home mom before later taking a secretarial job at the Strube insurance agency in Deptford.

Mrs. Wells loved to read and crochet mementos for family and friends, but her favorite pastime in New Jersey was buying at penny auctions. She would go a few times a month with a friend and her daughter-in-law, watching where they put their tickets and putting hers there as well.

"She would win stuff and she would give it to me or to her friend Lorraine," her daughter-in-law said. After moving to Texas, she said, "that's one thing she missed."

Survivors include sons Edward J. of Sherman, Texas, and James A. of Audubon; a daughter, Carol A. Palos of Corsicana; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A daughter, Patricia A. Rambo, died earlier.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, at St. Rose of Lima Church, Fourth Avenue at Kings Highway, Haddon Heights. Friends and family are invited to the church at 10:45. Burial will be in New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccannhealey.com.

215-854-2617 @DonSapatkin