Ellen Albertini Dow, an actress well-loved for her character roles in movies including “The Wedding Singer” and “Wedding Crashers,” passed Monday at the ripe old age of 101.
Dow may have achieved fame as the rapping granny in “The Wedding Singer,” performing a spirited and instantly iconic version of the Sugar Hill Gang hit, “Rapper’s Delight,” but her friends and loved ones in her hometown of Northumberland County knew a different side of the talented actress.
Former mayor Kevin Jones showed off Dow’s screen memorabilia, all donated by Dow herself to the Mount Carmel Public Library.
“She definitely exemplified the coal region ethic of working to an older age,” said Jones. “We`re just very proud of her and again she represented us well and she never failed to mention that this is where she was from.”
Before forging onward to a career spanning the big and small screen, the then Ellen Rose Albertini grew up in Mount Carmel, graduating from Mount Carmel High in 1931. Her father ran a family-owned car dealership from a building on West 3rd Street which still proudly sports the family name of “Albertini.”
Dow remained faithful to her hometown, returning for visits several times, including in June 2008 when she was given an honorary key to Mount Carmel.
“She was just so excited about everything, I think, about her hometown reminded her of her family, of which she was really the last of her generation from the Albertini family,” said Jones.
Dow would often get dinner at local mainstay Mattucci`s Restaurant, and take pictures with fans, including the owner`s son.
Waitress Eylse Prezlomski says she was enjoying “The Wedding Singer” with her father one night and learned that Dow had a surprising connection to her own family.
“We were watching it and my dad just looked at me and said, ‘Your nana used to play with her when they were little.’ I was like, ‘Oh, that`s pretty awesome!’” said Prezlomski.
Dow’s nephew says his aunt will be buried next Tuesday next to her husband in a cemetery in Mount Carmel, according to her wishes.
