Ella Mae Short, of Marydel, DE, was granted her angel wings on May 17, 2015 - one day before her 78th birthday. She was born on May 18, 1937 to the late Rev. Ervin and Beulah Penley in Honaker, VA. Ella was a CNA for 31 years, 26 of those at the Del. Home & Hospital in Smyrna, DE. She was Nanny to every child she met. Ella enjoyed going to the casinos, listening to bluegrass music and her morning cup of coffee with her future son in law, Ronnie. She was a loving mother, daughter, Nanny, sister and Aunt. She loved her family and was always there for them. She was predeceased by her husband, Perry; her son, Robert Sr; sisters Thelma & Alma and brothers Don, Jim and Pete. Ella is survived by her children Patricia Lewis & husband William; Lynda Short & her fiancée Ronnie Rhoades, (with whom she lived) and Donna Carino; a niece that was like a daughter, Sonya Lowe (Debbie); her brothers, Ervin Jr (Brenda), Stanley (Donna), Benny (Linda), Harold; sisters Hattie Fields (Nile) & Eura Boyd; sister in laws Deborah, Rosemary, JeanEllen, Tammy, Lois, Gaylene & Helen; brother in laws Fred Short & Marvin Short; 8 grandchildren, Michael, Chris, Jeremy, Robert Jr, Amanda, Keith, Jaimie & Cheyenne; 7 great grandchildren, Charlie, William, Alyzai, Mariah, Keith, Adrian and Virginia; many nieces & nephews and two special friends who were like sisters, Evelyn Bailey & Karen Moore. Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday May 22 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call Thursday evening from 7-9:00 PM. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Smyrna. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.matthewsbryson.com. Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.