Obituary of Bruce Elwell

Bruce A. Elwell, a retired Stained Glass Glazier, passed away unexpectedly at the Lahey Clinic Medical Clinic in Burlington on Thursday afternoon, December 6, 2012. The beloved husband of 54 years of Louise A. (Batchon) he was 77 years old. Bruce was born in Brooks, Maine. He was the son of the late Adrian and Ann Elwell. Bruce was raised for a period of time in Belmont, MA and then returned to Brooks Maine for his high school education. Bruce was a Veteran of the United States Air Force which he was very proud of. He was in the service for four years and was station in both Alaska and Japan. Bruce and Louise settled in Burlington in 1965. Bruce had a very successful and rewarding career that spanned over 25 years at Whittemore Assocates. He started at Whittemore working as an Apprentice and eventually became a Stained Glass Glazier. As a Stained Glass Glazier he designed and installed stained glass windows in churches throughout New England. He loved his job and had great pride for his work. He had great creativity and for one of his churches in Gloucester he designed a window with the famous Gloucester Fisherman. Bruce was also an authenticator for Tiffany Glass. Due to his knowledge and history of glass it was a talent that not many people had. After Whittemore closed Bruce went on to work for himself remodeling homes and doing roofing. After his retirement he started growing Bonsai trees. Bruce developed a passion for this hobby and had the trees displayed throughout his home as well as having several gardens in his yard. Bruce enjoyed hunting. He was a hockey fan and during his younger years he belonged to a men’s hockey league as well as coaching youth hockey in Lowell. Bruce’s home and family were the center of his life. His four grandchildren were his pride and joy. He had a wonderful relationship with them and loved to tell of their accomplishments. Bruce leaves a legacy of his creative talents that are displayed throughout home as well as a loving family that brought so much joy to his life. Bruce was the beloved husband of Louise A. (Batchon). He was the loving father of Sharon Elwell of North Reading and the late Linda Elwell-Battaglia & Wayne George Elwell. Brother of Donald Elwell of Belmont and the late Robert Elwell. Bruce was the proud and devoted grandfather of Caitlyn & Jonathan Battaglia and Evan & Rebecca Kelley. Funeral Services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 of Rt., 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 10:00. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. In lieu of flowers memorials in Bruce’s name may be made to the American Lung Association of NE, 460 Totten Pond Road, #400, Waltham, MA 02451 www.lungusa.org. Bruce A. Elwell by Sharon February 20, 1935-December 6, 2012 We are here to celebrate my father. I am going to start with this Rock. Unlike most, my father would look at this rock and see something else. Possibly, to perfectly balance a landscape or to see an entire mountain by its shape. But to me, it is a symbol of a number of things. First, it is a symbol of HIS faith and secondly, it is a symbol of my father’s solid character and approach to life. My father was a man of extraordinarily strong will and perseverance. Ok, I will use the another word --- stubborn. (my mom is nodding her head!) But it got him far. It helped him raise a family, work hard and live through a tough illness. Family was the most important thing to my dad. He met my mother the day he got out of the service. Still in uniform, as he visited his father at work, he met his red-headed beauty. Somehow he convinced her to marry him and they started their family right away. Dad told me one of his favorite things --even after his girls turned into moms themselves --he could still hear us say, “Daddy’s home!” and come running to him when he came home from work. When his family grew to include grandchildren, he could not be more proud. He would grin ear to ear at anyone who would listen to his grandchildren’s accomplishments, achievements, or just anything cute they said or did. What I am proud of most is how his grandchildren, my children, have all learned and absorbed some of his best character traits. The most important being honesty and kindness. My father led his life on the notion that your word and a handshake is all you need. You could stand on that. He was honest as the day is long. (unless you have ever played cards with him). But seriously, he based all of his decisions on that premise. If you said you would do something, you did it. But his honesty also extended into kindness. If someone needed help, he gave them a hand. Every relative and neighbor can attest to his guidance and helping hand. My dad taught me to fish, but I could never tell a fish story as good as him! His hunting stories and his stories from his service in the air force where he was stationed in Alaska and Japan are legendary. As a kid and as an adult, I loved to hear about his experiences of snow, cold, bears and baseball. Actually, no one who knew him-- even for a short time, could get away without hearing a story. His craftsmanship and creativity are also his legacy. Places all around the country hold stained glass windows made by his hands--from here in New England to Virginia and Montana. Growing up, I loved to stand with him as he worked in his studio or downstairs in is “shop” cutting glass, or woodworking. When it came time for me to chose a career path, it was simple. It was not exactly the same, but it holds all of the same skills, of craft, visual art, problem solving and creativity. We always had something to talk about or discuss. I could bring him anything and he always had a solution or a way to make it better. Of course sometimes discussions turned into debates, but he loved that the most. After he was forced to stop working, he turned the use of his creative hands and eye to the practice of bonsai. My dad’s trees were not only an exercise of effort and ingenuity, but of beauty. He worked diligently at his plants and gardens year round. A grandkid could feel helpful to move a rock or many rocks or dig a hole, or move a statue. Rivers of rocks, moss, trees of all kinds make up these miniature landscapes that he (and my mom, the best partner) created for years. I think we all want to thank my Dad for the beauty and peace we see around us that he had his hand in. Like his gardens, it gives us a chance to ponder and reflect the joyous times in our lives as well as the tough times. At these times my Dad, always said to me, “that is life, kid, keep your chin up, it will be alright.” Dad, thank you for being my rock. I speak for all of us here, you will be missed greatly, Dad. I love you and am very proud. I Am Making All Things New Revelation 21:1-7 I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, ant the sea was no more And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.' And the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new.&quote; Also he said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.' Then he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.'