Ellen Manassee

NORFOLK – Ellen Manassee, a sharp, independent woman with a deep appreciation for the arts and culture, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2025, at Harbor’s Edge, where she had lived for the past 18 years. She was 90 years old.

Born in the Bronx, Ellen carried her New York roots with her throughout her life and often said, “Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker.” That identity shaped her—direct, discerning, and always intellectually curious.

Ellen held a range of jobs over the years, including French teacher, corporate copy manager and editor, and, later, owner of a gift shop in a downtown Norfolk hotel. She was an avid reader, a consistent moviegoer, and a dedicated traveler. She had a strong mind, a clear sense of self, and a deep love for language and learning.

She is survived by her nephew and niece, Gary Fleder of Los Angeles and Andy Verner of Boca Raton, Fla.; her great nephew and niece Zoe and Xander Fleder, of Los Angeles; her “adopted family,” including cousins Allan and Susan Donn; cousins Cyndi and Jacob Tessler; Richard Randall, Risa Abrams, Matthew, Kenneth, and Warren Goldblatt — and friends; and by Arnel Voker, her caregiver for over six years, whom Ellen considered “the daughter she never had.”

Ellen will be remembered for her intellect, independence, and the unique way she moved through the world.

A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.

H.D. Oliver Funeral Home.