Obituary of Ellen Heekin

Ellen Heekin, a resident of Niskayuna, died on February 21, 2024, at the age of 68. Ellen was born in Dunkirk, NY, she was predeceased by her parents John and Eugenia Brenecki, her sister Ann Brenecki, and brother Jack Brenecki. Being the last child born to the family, she was nicknamed "Baby Girl". Ellen completed her college degree at SUNY Brockport where she met her future husband, Richard. As newlyweds, they moved to Denver, Colorado to work and live before returning to New York State. Upon returning they went to live in the Albany area, Ellen operated a daycare for many years and touched many lives as a caregiver for the children who came to her house every day. Ellen then decided to follow her other passion and opened her own pastry shoppe in the 1990s, which featured her excellent pastries and other sweet goodies. Later in life, she began working at Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) where she worked as a Senior Technical Specialist, she enjoyed working with the staff and students. Students remember her wit, wonderful laugh, and how much she cared for and trusted them. While at SCCC she earned the title of Certified Executive Pastry Chef through the American Culinary Federation and was a coach for the knowledge team that went on to compete each year. She was also awarded the Pastry Chef of the Year from the American Culinary Federation, Capitol District, Central New York in 2011 where she was recognized for displaying a passion for the pastry craft and having an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and helping to educate others by sharing skills and knowledge. Ellen loved to travel and took many cruises to the Caribbean where she would work on her tan. She liked to call the pool, her other "office". She loved company and in later years would have get-togethers at her home with her high school classmates with whom she maintained contact throughout all the years. Ellen's friends would rave about her culinary skills. Ellen also doted on her 3 cats, Fluffy, Gray, and Tiger who would love to steal pieces of the puzzles she was working on at that time. She also loved attending and watching the Buffalo Sabres, (especially Rhett Warrener) play. Ellen is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard, her sister, Paula (Roger) Cooley, and her nephews Roger (Amanda) Cooley and Richard Cooley. Ellen especially loved spending time with her great nephews Jordan and Alex Cooley, whom she treated as her own children. If you would like to you can donate to a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.