Mary Ellen Gibbons passed away on March 5, 2026 in Fairhope, Alabama. Mary Ellen was born in Sioux City, Iowa on September 28, 1944 to Dominick Caldarulo and Marjorie Caldarulo. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois after a brief period in Fall City, Nebraska where her father operated a photography studio after service in the US Army Air Corps in World War II.

In Chicago, she grew up with her four brothers and sisters and attended St. Angela Grammar School and Siena High School. Mary Ellen later attended Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas and received her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1966. As a lifelong educator of children, she also obtained a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Mary Ellen married her 4th grade boyfriend, Henry Christopher Gibbons on June 17, 1967 in Abilene, Kansas. They shared nearly 59 years of marriage and raised two children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Mary Ellen taught elementary school for over two decades. She was a diligent educator and was determined to ensure that each child reached their full potential. After her retirement, she remained active by substitute teaching, helping young mothers by volunteering at Willow, playing bunco with her friends, traveling, and planting a new garden each year. Most of all, Mary Ellen enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great grandson.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband Henry Gibbons, her daughter Shannon Dupre´, her son Christopher Gibbons, her grandchildren Justin Gibbons, Tyler Wade, Sophie Gibbons, and Evan Gibbons, and her great grandson Henry John Gibbons.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on April 7, 2026 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 5024 N Grove Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73122.