Elena "Ellie" Hakim, 64, a resident of the Town of East Fishkill for 31 years, formerly of Staten Island, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 with her devoted husband by her side.



A loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother "Nana" and dear friend to many, Ellie will be greatly missed. Ellie truly loved her life and was most happy spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren.



For 19 years, Ellie worked as a Legal Secretary for Robert Rahemba, Esq. in Fishkill, NY. She was a member of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill.



Born in Brooklyn on February 13, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Alfonso and Ida Marcelli Grillo and sister of the late Domenick Grillo. On July 8, 1967, she married her high school sweetheart, Lew Hakim, at Regina Pacis Church in Brooklyn, NY. Her husband survives at home.



In addition to her husband, Ellie is survived by her son, John P. Hakim and his wife Krista of Mt. Pleasant, SC; her daughter, Debra Mangone and her husband Chris of Manhattan; her greatest joys, granddaughter Sophia Hakim, and grandsons Dominick Hakim and Gianfranco Mangone; her sisters-in-law, Patricia Grillo and Barbara Picarello and her husband Vincent; her mother-in-law Ann Hakim; her dear friends, Tess and Dan Sullivan, Debbie and Frank Troiso, Lorraine Dinanzio and Anna Odell; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many more family members and friends.



The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff from Hospice and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Sleepy Hollow for their care and compassion during Ellie's last days and throughout her 20 month battle with cancer. They went above and beyond and their support was greatly appreciated.



Calling hours are from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 103 Jackson St., Fishkill. Entombment will follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice Foundation, Inc., 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to LUNGevity Foundation 435 North LaSalle Street, Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60654.