Mary Ellen Cadena was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 6, 1951, to Noe and Estefania Cadena, just 11 minutes after her beloved twin sister, Mary Elizabeth. Surrounded by family and loved ones on the afternoon of October 4th, Mary Ellen reunited with her heavenly parents and reconnected with her cherished dogs Cielito, Lucky and Snoopy.
After the passing of her mother when she was 7 years old, Mary Ellen attended Colegio Guadalupe in Mexico City, which was an experience that began shaping her Catholic faith. Impacted by the education she received, combined with the legacy of teachers in her family, she received her teaching degree in Mexico. After several years of teaching in Mexico, she moved back to California in 1984. Mary Ellen had a grand sense of humor, a contagious smile, a love for travel, fashion, and for experiencing various cultures throughout her life. She also loved playing Farkle, Rummikub and Chinazo with her family, even though she was occasionally a sore loser. She taught Spanish at Visitation Catholic School for 24 years, impacting the lives of thousands of students.
In 2014, Mary Ellen met the love of her life, Glen Edward Pool. She moved to Batesville, Arkansas and married Glen in July 2016. She built upon her faith, always accompanied by her beloved Glen, attending Saint Mary’s and Moorefield United Methodist Church. She served as St. Mary’s secretary for 8 years, always spreading love and hope. She was also a member of the YaYa Optumus Club. Throughout her battle with cancer from 2018 until her passing moments, she was steadfast with her faith, always trusting and accepting God’s plan for her.
She is survived by her husband Glen, her daughters Marissa and Monica, her son Esteban, eight nieces and nephews, stepsons John and Ben, three daughters-in-law Heather, Jackie, and Stephanie, son-in-law Fernando, five grandchildren, her twin Mary Elizabeth, brothers Richard and Esteban, sisters Theresa, Marguerite, and Louise.
A rosary will be held on Tuesday, October 7th, at 6:30 pm at Saint Mary’s, followed by a funeral service on Wednesday at 12 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests to please consider donating to the Humane Society of Independence County in honor of Mary Ellen’s love for animals.
