Join us as we celebrate the life, legacy, and ministry of May-Ellen Colón. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on October 9, 2022, and will be live-streamed here on the Spencerville Church website and YouTube channel.
Please Take a Moment and Leave a Comment Below
We’re grateful to have you with us as we celebrate May-Ellen. While you’re here, please take a moment to share a memory or leave a word of encouragement for the Colón family in the comment area below.
32 Comments
Jason Lombard (Author)
To the Colón family: it was a privilege to know May-Ellen and to work alongside her here at Spencerville Church. May God draw near to you in the days, weeks, and months ahead as you continue to navigate the “firsts” of life in her absence. We look forward to the great day when Jesus returns and reunites her with her family and friends. I’m confident that many of the seeds she sowed over her lifetime of ministry have and will continue to bear fruit until that day. We can’t wait to see her again.
Geri Mueller
The first time I met May-Ellen was in church and she and her husband invited us for lunch. The fridge and freezer were emptied for additional food. Beside the delicious food we enjoyed their fellowship and all the mission stories from different countries. Since that time we were hooked and have had a rich relationship. Trips on the water with their boat, camping in the woods, working together with music committees, making music together, sharing the responsibilities of ACS Spencerville, and giving Bible studies to their beloved neighbor. Best of all we were prayer partners/friends. All these special moments will stay with me as great, unforgettable memories with a women that added flavor and blessings to my life. The last time we shared time together was scrubbing their house in order to sell and move to Hawaii. What will we do next when we are in heaven?
Dottie Blanche
May-Ellen was a great friend, mentor, and roommate at AUC. She and I have known each other longer than either of us have known our husbands! The world is not a nice a place as it was before this past June. Love to the family, including Victor.
Esme Ross
Our hearts are filled with sorrow with you in the loss of precious May-Ellen. We appreciated her so much and she was an encouragement to us in our ministry in Triadelphia.
We are praying for the comfort of Jesus to be with you all. “Even so Come Lord Jesus”
Much love.
Pastor Robert and Esme Ross
Gloria Singleton
How I remember May-Ellen is she would have lunch with us often at the General Conference Cafeteria. Though we were not employees, that was our favorite spot for lunch and to meet friends. Well, she was a fast friend to have. She never met a stranger for too long. May-Ellen was the kind of person you read about in a great book. She always had a ready smile to greet you. Though she was highly educated and proficient in many areas she did not lord it over anyone. Alvin and Gloria Singleton
Lauri Rodich
May-Ellen was a gift, a gift to humanity and her memory will be for a blessing
Derek Morris
Dear Gaspar: You and May-Ellen have been an inspiration to me for so many years. Be assured of our continued prayers. We long for the day when the LORD will make all things new. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Kathy Beagles Coneff
My heart is with all the Colon’s. Gaspar (cousin 🙂 Sara-May (Seminary mentee), Ivan (HVA student), I know this is a huge, but temporary loss. She was a dear work colleague, fellow religious educator, and valued friend!
Zack Plantak
Dear Gaspar, Sara-May, and Ivan and the entire Colon family, we love you and we remember May-Ellen at this time as you celebrate her life and remember her diligence in work and in personal life. Her energy was always on the high, but especially as she worked for the world-wide communities of need. And her passion for Sabbath was not only theoretically and doctoral but practical and personal. May we see her and all our lives once at the soon resurrection when our Lord comes to take us to our ultimate home! Zack and Lidija.
Carol June Hooker
Our paths crossed at Atlantic Union College, Greater New York Academy, Andrews, and Sligo.
We send our love and longing for your comfort.
Carol June and David Hooker
Galina & Artur Stele
Dear Gaspar and your family,
Our condolences for your loss… May God comfort you with His comfort. We remember May-Ellen as a very dedicated, joyful , creative, and mission-oriented person. Her research on Sabbath keeping, a book on Sabbath rest, outreach to community, and love for all will be remembered. You both made an impact on God’s work in the Euro-Asia Division . We are looking forward to seeing her again when Jesus comes!
Godwin and Rhoda Nwankpah
May-Ellen and Pastor Colon served in our church in South Windsor Conn. in the nineties
We fondly remember her cheerfulness in serving The Lord. We remember them coming
Back to visit when they came back from Africa. On that day they join us in the choir to sin
Sing “Come Come ye Saints (622)” through the years that song has become one of our
Family favorite. It was a pleasure to to see them again when we came to Maryland. We will always remember her fondly. We do by Gods’ grace hope to see her again when Christ come. May her soul Rest In Peace.
David, Kelly Reiber and Nani
Hello, this is Nani and I am at Kelly and David’s house, watching May Ellen’s Memorial. I could say a lot about May Ellen, but the one thing that stands out in my mind is her Christian love for me. I am now a new SDA church member, because the first time I came to visit the Kailua Church, May Ellen reached out to me with that love. After church, she invited me to her home for lunch! I had recently become widowed, and was heartbroken. She and Gaspar listened, loved and made me feel Jesus’ love for me. May Ellen was an unforgettable person, and I am so sorry that I only had a few months with her as my friend. I look forward to eternity with her. My love to you, Gaspar, Ivan, Sarah May and her beloved grandchildren! Aloha from Hawaii. Nani
Lourdes and Reynir
We have known May-Ellen and Gaspar since AUC days when we sang together and did Sabbath afternoon missionary work in Lawrence, MA. They both sang at our wedding and we were there for their wedding a year after ours. Over the years we’ve kept in touch and have often been guests in their home. We deeply feel the loss of May-Ellen, a precious friend, always loving and kind and generous with all with whom she came in contact. Our loving thoughts and prayers are with Gaspar, also a dear, dear friend, and all the family. We cling to the Blessed Hope as we wait for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Reynir Gudmundsson and Lourdes Morales-Gudmundsson
Jennifer Perez
My condolences to the family. I am reading May-Ellen’s book Sundown to Sundown and it is really inspiring. So much appreciate who she was and all she did, yet always humble and with a smile and a conversation in the hallways of the GC.
Thank you Jesus for sharing your daughter May-Ellen with us. Please be with her family and lift them up daily as we all wait for Your soon return.
God Bless you all,
Jennifer Perez
Michael Weiner
Dear Gaspar and your wonderful family,
When you and May-Ellen came to our little Rotary Club in Olney, it was instant love and connection for me, and I believe all of us, from the moment we met you both. We remember her humor and wit, and her aliveness and energy. My prayers and blessings to you, as you and your children move through these days and weeks of healing, knowing that May-Ellen is always present in your hearts.
Linda Farley-Meyer
We met May, in Hartford, CT, when she was still in grade school. Even as a youth, she applied herself to her studies, and developed her relationship with God, church, and her music. May and my brother carried on a friendly grade competition those years, and I believe she was the valedictorian of the class. My parents, OJ and Millie Mills, grew to love her and included her in family activities and she through those years became a child of their hearts. Because of that, when I would come home from college or high school breaks, May would be around, involved, responsible, dedicated, and cooperative, a learner, supporter, thoughtful, and unselfish. Mother and Daddy were delighted that May and Gaspar returned to Southern New England where the adult May continued to warm their hearts. They were so excited to welcome Gaspar and then Ivan and Sarah into the relationship. May would report on their mission work in Russia and they would excitedly tell me the news. As an adult, I enjoyed the privilege of sharing study time with May, when we, unexpectedly, met at Andrews University. She shared chapters of her book, and the research project she was working on, family news, updated me on Victor and his post office work, and Gaspar and of course Ivan and Sarah’s proud moments. We caught up and prayed together. Our last personal visit, years ago, was in Maryland, when she and Gaspar opened their home to me, and she served me a familiar breakfast from my childhood. Ours was the trusted friendship of family. She and Gaspar honored me, by asking if she could stay in our home, whether or not we were around. I am still disappointed that we were robbed of one last visit, planned after last summer’s GC. May’s giving heart and life continue to touch me and others. May taught Jerry’s son, David and he remembered that he was rewarded with extra recess, because of her marble rewards. She leaves a legacy of denominational service an
d influence felt around the world and Jerry and I will continue to minister in her honor as we hold in sacred memory her years of service. Our prayers are with you her family and friends in Maryland.
Love, Linda Farley-Meyer and Jerry Meyer
Nancy Davies-Cole
To Gaspar, Ian & Crystal, Sarah-May and the grand children. We are so sorry to learn about the passing of May-Ellen our dear friend. Please accept our sincere condolences at this difficult time. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Know that you are not alone, the good Lord is with you every step of the way. He will comfort you all. Please be assured that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I am sure May-Ellen and John have seen each other. They are in a better place now. We thank God for everything.
From: Nancy, Emlyn and Olive
Dottie Blanche
I second what Jonathan Paulien said!
Carlos and Kathy Irizarry
Gaspar, Our hearts go out to you. What a loss! Know that we care and that we pray you experience the peace that only our Savior can bring. We have this hope that burns within our hearts that keeps us through these tough losses. It is a blessing to have positive memories. May Ellen was a gem. Lovingly, Carlos and Kathy
Carol and Milton McHenry
Gaspar, Ivan, Sarah-May, Crystal,
We so long to be there with you. We loved her too. Never give up! Jesus is coming.
Dottie Blanche
That was beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing.
Sean & Catherine Robinson
Dear Gaspar
Such a wonderful service filled with words reflecting May-Ellens deep love for her God. You and your precious family remain in our prayers. May the Comforter continue to strengthen you, until the day of the Resurrection. Sean and Catherine
Tom & Shirley Evans
Shirley and I offer our deep-felt condolences to Gaspar and the family on the loss of May-Ellen. I remember the meetings with her for the NAD Community Serivces and then at our Spencerville Church. She was a busy lady and at retirement was working to finish a book which she had been working on. We look forward to meeting with her again and many of our loved ones that have gone to sleep in Jesus. We would be there with you tonight but alas; we both came down with Covid and are having to stay home for a few days.
Minnie and Andrew McNeil
Andrew and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Gasper and family. The friendship we shared with May-Ellen will not ever be forgotten. May-Ellen was warm, compassionate, knowledgeable, and inspirational with a heart willing to share and be sent anyplace God needed her to be, homeland or abroad; touching hearts for Christ everywhere she went. We spent many unforgettable hours in ministry together, sharing and envisioning a better way and a better day. Gasper may the joy the two of you brought to the world together bring comfort as you await that grand and forever reunion with May-Ellen in the presence of Jesus.
Dr Terry and Terri Koch
Our acquaintance and friendships began at our dear AUC where I sang in the college Minuteman Male Quartet with Gaspar, and with whom I share a mutual birthday. I lived in the college community after graduation when I began my first teaching job. I also continued to sing in the Aeolians, the college select choir in which Gaspar also sang and it was during that time I met May-Ellen.
In the mid 1990s my wife and I helped my brother Bruce, who is a pastor, conduct a series of meetings for the Quiet Hour on the island of Saaremaa in the nation of Estonia. My brother’s wife is Russian so after the meetings were completed we went to Russia visiting our sister-in-law’s parents in Pskov, then on to Moscow. We knew Gaspar and May-Ellen were living and working there and they invited us to stay with them. It was a surprise when we discovered they had given up their bedroom for us and they stayed with the children.
May-Ellen volunteered to serve as our tour guide, for which we were most grateful as she appeared to know the ins and outs of getting around and dealing with people. We purchased a balalaika for our son but really needed an instrument case for it in order to get it home. May-Ellen knew where to go, but we wondered as we followed her quick pace through a very seedy area and into a disreputable-looking building which turned out to be a music store. There were many people in the store and we had to sign up by number for service. When my number was called I went to the counter and tried to describe what I wanted but was made to understand there was surprisingly no such thing in the store.
After my unsuccessful attempts, May-Ellen came up with a “Let me take care of this” attitude and in just a few moments she got another salesperson who said, “Wait, I think somewhere in the back I there might be a case. After some time a clerk returned with a dusty, but very adequate case that fit the balalaika well, apparently the only one in the store. I remember that May-Ellen took no credit for orchestrating this find, but attributed the success to the Lord working a miracle for us.
She also took us to the denominational office and school in Moscow, and warmly introduced us to everyone. We were impressed with the Colon children who were so polite and friendly.
The memorial service for May-Ellen has just concluded and was so beautifully done, so uplifting, filled with hope and the wonderful assurance of Christ’s promise to return and grant new life to His family awaiting His Resurrection call.
She worked some kind of miracle because another
Rita Vital
My deepest sympathy to May-Ellen‘s family, Gaspar her children and grandchildren and to her brother Victor. This is Rita Vital. I knew May-Ellen Neten as a teenager . When I asked her to help in Vacation Bible School in Warehouse Point, Connecticut which, was a suburb north of Hartford, she willingly agreed to help and she faithfully did for a two week vacation Bible school, year after year until she went away to school. She was always even then smiling, helpful and a willing worker for the Lord. With love, Rita Vital, now 92 years old and formally Bible worker at the Hartford church under OJ Mills (who’s wife, Millie taught May-Ellen piano) and leader of Vacation Bible School. To meet the needs of the younger children the Adventurer Club was started, and May Ellen was there to help. God bless you all.
Jondelle McGhee
I met aunty MayEllen when I was in the 7th grade, as missionaries in Moscow, Russia. She invited me to meet her kids who were unpacking at their new apartment as they had just arrived from their mission service in the Ivory Coast! I remember walking from the “old” Euto-Asia division office to her house and thinking, “Wow! She seems like the most cheerful, energetic, interesting, and kind people.” Later that day, after a huge wardrobe fell on top of Ivan and crashed glass all around us kids, I also remember how worried she was about her son and how protective she was that none of us kids would be hurt. I liked how much she cared about families and kids. Aunty MayEllen had the most beautiful singing voice, told interesting stories, and had a contagious laugh! I still remember one particular Saturday night in Russia, eating popcorn and apples and playing some little tiny piglet game that she thought was hysterical. I remember her dressing up and doing plays to make us kids laugh and being the life of the party, every day of the week. Later, when I was in high school, she always made me feel at home when I needed a place to stay on home-leaves from Highland View Academy while my family lived far, far away on the west coast. As I grew older, she often spoke about her work, and when asked, would explain to me how she managed to jungle such a busy life and still invite friends and strangers alike over for a meal on Sabbath. She shared recipes, and gave advice , always doing three things at once, yet managing to make each person she conversed with feel loved and cared for.. Most of all, I will remember her as a woman who shared her talents with others and worked tirelessly for the Lord. She was a woman of faith, and an incredible spiritual leader in her own right. I was blessed to know her and I look forward to hearing her joyful laughter and seeing that twinkle in her eye, when Jesus takes us all home to heaven! Oh what a day that will be.
Love and hugs to each of you in her family. Uncle Gaspar, Ivan , Sara-May, Chrystal and girls). You are all in my prayers tonight. The memorial was beautiful!
Ruth Stavenhagen
My heart is with you all!
May-Ellen was a wonderful person and I remember her fondly. The many hallway conversations we had about our children, Sarah and Christopher, who attended school together, always brought me such joy. I so enjoyed the Christmas letters she would email me to update me in the wonderful family events, celebrations, etc.
Gasper, you’ve always been so kind to me and my son. Thank you!
My sweet Sarah, how I love you and hurt for you. What a special young person you were, and beautiful adult, inside and outside, you’ve become. I’m so very proud of you in every way!
I just want to let you and your family know how very much I think of you and that I’m holding you close to my heart in thoughts and prayers.
With so much love,
Ruthie Stavenhagen
Andrea and Michael Hatgicosti
May – Ellen Colon :
My Sweet May Ellen …❤️.
how much :
impact…
Of Compassion ..
Dedication…
Inner beauty …
and love ..
You taught and left us with !!!
I will always remember your soft and sweet approach towards others …
? peace .. harmony .. and simplicity you carried anywhere you went …
I will always remember how quietly and gracefully you helped so many people …
including me and my family …
With your prayers and positive energy for better days and healing ..
Me and Mike were so grateful and thankful…???
I will always remember your famous fresh berry salad in our neighborly gatherings ….?
I will always remember you taking your long walks ….
I will always remember you ?
You my left us physically …
But spiritually you will be like an angel watching over us …
especially .. watching over your children ..grandchildren …
and your lovely dear husband Caspar …❤️
Nothing will be the same without you?
You will be missed dearly ..
So long May Ellen ..
till will meet again ..
[ Αιώνια σου η μνήμη ]
May your memory live forever ?
Amin ???
With love Andrea and Michael
Hatgicosti ❤️
BURTONSVILLE md
Patty Prasada-Rao
Dear Prof Gaspar, Sarah-May, & Ivan (not sure if I ever got to meet you), and your whole family and loved ones, My prayers have been ascending to the Lord since the GC session this summer and especially been lifting you all up to stronger arms than mine since Ms May Ellen fell asleep in Jesus. I am so thankful for the ways I experienced her love, care, passion, justice, commitment, and joy, esp remembering when she visited our New Song Ministries in Sandtown with you Gaspar, your students, and Sarah
-May too. I always wished I could have seen her in her own ADRA/ACS environment to.share my encouragement with her as she did for me. Thank you for sharing her with so many of us. May God be close as you walk through this next season, missing and rememberimg her with love. May you continue to find your hope & strength in Jesus, as she did. Much love and many prayers, Patty. (What a beautiful service! Wish I could have been there in person. Thanks for livestreaming it for the rest of us.)
Annet en Hans Ponte
We fondly remember May-Ellen as a great friend and colleague from the 1st time we met her. An unsual dedicated woman and Church leader who is greatly missed. Praying that her works are following her in us. Casper be blessed and remain the blessing you are and have always been. Annet and Hans
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