No one would fault Ellen Londo for hunkering down at home like many Napa seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is 82, after all.
Instead, this longtime Napan is busier than ever. She’s taking neighbors to doctor appointments. She’s making the rounds at Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Costco and the Dollar Store, picking up orders and making deliveries. Londo has even pitched in to help watch her great-grandchildren.
“I don’t mind doing it,” she said modestly. “I could probably clean house or something but it’s better to go help somebody.”
Born in Southern California, Londo first moved to Napa with her family when she was about 7.
“My dad worked at Mare Island,” first in the military and then as a civilian, she recalled. They lived in Vallejo in a trailer park for a year or two before moving to Napa.
Londo, a Napa Napa High school graduate, was part of the Class of 1956.
Married at age 18, she and her husband Jim moved around for a while, to Washington state, Arizona and Duluth, Minnesota.
“We had two children by then,” she recalled. Jim worked for a steel plant back then, she recalled. “We left there because the steel plant went on strike and we moved back to Napa in 1960.”
“I said I was never gonna raise my kids here and guess where I ended up,” she said with a little laugh.
After the Londo’s two children, Terry and Patricia, grew up, Londo later worked for a few different Napa retailers including Robert’s Variety and Dahnken of Napa. Eventually, she got into the banking industry and worked at Napa Valley Bank, Independent Savings and Loan and finally Vintage Bank.
For many years the family lived on a parcel on Redwood Road, but after Jim Londo was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he moved into a care home in Napa.
About five years ago Londo moved to a mobile home park on Orchard Avenue.
On Redwood Road, she didn’t have many close neighbors, said Londo. But on Orchard, she sure does.
Recently, “I was helping a lady that had back surgery,” said Londo. “I’d get her groceries and medications.”
Then another friend, Sheri Hanel, needed help with her 87-year-old mother.
“I met Ellen at an Elks Club dinner,” said Hanel. After Hanel’s mother fell and had a series of strokes, “we were kind of stuck at home.”
Londo started texting Hanel when she was headed to Costco and other stores.
“I don’t want to be out in the ‘COVID community’ because if either mom or I get sick the other one’s in trouble,” said Hanel.
Londo is very careful about social distancing and safety measures, said Hanel.
“She wears her mask. She does not come in our house,” instead leaving the food outside. “She’s such an angel,” said Hanel.
A different friend recently lost her husband, and Londo takes her out on errands.
Some people might not want to volunteer to do such shopping because of the virus, but Londo said she’s in good health. “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had two tests and I’ve been negative both times.”
When she’s doing her errands, “I try to be very careful,” she said. “I wear my mask and in the beginning I wore gloves,” but now she just douses herself in hand sanitizer.
“I try and keep my distance from people and do what you have to do.”
Where else does she shop?
“Wherever they want me to go. I’m going to Costco tomorrow. I have to get some things for a friend.”
Londo also travels to the Bay Area as needed to help take care of her great-grandchildren.
Her granddaughter is home-schooling two of her three kids and this great-grandma helps with the youngest, who is 20 months old. “She’s a lot of fun,” said Londo. “I don’t see them very often,” but “they’re really good kids. They mind really well.”
After doing the math, Londo realized she’s been married for 64 years.
What’s the secret to such a long marriage?
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “We never fought or anything. The last few years when he got dementia, it got harder, but it is what it is.”
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SEE PHOTOS OF ABC BAKERY THROUGH THE YEARS
Photos: Napa's ABC Bakery through the years
ABC 1990

Alexis Handelman opened her ABC cafe and restaurant in 1990.
Alexis Handelman of Alexis Baking Company

Alexis Handelman of Alexis Baking Company in a photo from 2015.
Alexis Handelman of ABC Bakery

Alexis Handelman puts finishing touches on a wedding cake, one of her ABC restaurant and bakery's specialties.
ABC Bakery: small business of the year 2017

Alexis Baking Company owner Alexis Handelman, center, accepts the award as the Small Business of the Year from the Napa Chamber of Commerce at its 2017 Annual Meeting. Helping with the presentation is Mechanics Bank Vice Chairman Michael Downer, left, and Travis Stanley, chamber president and CEO.
Easter Egg Dyeing at ABC Bakery

Kayla Farris, 4, reacts as her mother Whitney removes an egg from a natural dye at an Easter egg coloring event at Alexis Baking Company and Cafe in 2015.
Easter Egg Dyeing at ABC Bakery

Eighteen-month-old Ashley Lombardi dyes her first egg.
ABC 2004 story

A 2004 Napa Register story about ABC bakery.
ABC Bakery celebrates first anniversary, Oct. 1991, page 1

Alexis Handelman and ABC Bakery were profiled in the Napa Register in 1991.
ABC Bakery, Oct. 1991, page 2

Alexis Handelman and ABC Bakery were profiled in the Napa Register in 1991.
Catch up on Napa County's top news stories of 2020
In case you missed it, here is a look at the top stories of 2020.
It's been a turbulent year for the wine industry, which between intermittent wildfires, smoke events and pandemic lockdowns has attempted to remain open for business.
The Hennessey and Glass fires made 2020 a year to remember for all the wrong reasons.
It was the year when schools and universities went dark — and their denizens were left to teach and learn, online and indefinitely separated from their friends and peers.
COVID-19 has catapulted county government into the spotlight.
Coronavirus came on quietly, a silent killer that surrounded us like a slowly gathering cloud of smoke.
You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com