Obituary of Ellen Sheehan

Ellen K. (Connolly-Mahoney) Sheehan, passed away at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, on Thursday evening, January 26, 2012. She was 86 years old. Ellen was born, raised and educated in Somerville. She was the daughter of Irish Immigrants the late Dennis and Katherine Connolly. Ellen settled in Burlington over 50 years ago where she became involved in the community and her church. Ellen had a successful career as an Accountant working for RCA for 25 years. She loved her job at RCA and kept in touch with her many friends from RCA getting together with them annually. She was a woman of devout faith. Ellen attended Mass daily at St. Margaret’s in Burlington. She was also a past member of St. Barbara’s Young at Heart & Ladies Sodality. Ellen was a member of the Burlington Seniors and enjoyed attending their events and dances. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting as well as traveling. Ellen enjoyed many friendships both through St. Margaret’s as well as the Senior Center. Her daughters Donna and Denise and their families were the center of Ellen’s life. Ellen was a proud and loving mother, grandmother & great grandmother. Ellen was the beloved wife of the late Dennis Mahoney and John J. Sheehan. She was the loving mother of Donna M. Griglock & her husband William of Las Vegas, NV and Denise M. Kelly & her husband Philip of Derry, NH. Sister of the late Anne Lawn, Gerald and Joseph Connolly. Grandmother of David Norton and Mark Kelly. Great grandmother of Sophie, Owen, Charlie & Jacob. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Ellen’s name may be made to St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington, MA 01803. Family Remembrance by David Norton Ellen, Helen, Elie, Nell, Mumma, Nana, Gigi. So many names for a person who touched so many lives. We are here to mourn and celebrate the life of Ellen Sheehan. She deeply touched all of you that are here today and many more that she joined in heaven last Thursday at 9 pm. Connolly, Mahoney, Sheehan. Strong Irish surnames; Elie’s heritage played a prominent role in her personality and her view on life reflected by the Irish Need Not Apply sign in her house and the stories of how hard it was for the Irish to make their mark at the early part of last century that led her to be a strong-willed fighter. Resilience is a poignant word to describe Elie’s life. The trio of Irish names also reflects the heartbreak and obstacles Elie had to overcome well before it was common for women to be more than a homemaker. After her beloved Dennis died leaving her with two young daughters that she had to provide for, Elie launched a successful career at RCA, where she made life-long friends with whom she celebrated with an annual BBQ. Though she raised two daughters in Donna and Denise that are quite different, there is no doubt both are incredible people, and I know their experience over the last few weeks has brought them closer together than ever. She was able to explore a lot of the world with her 2nd husband John until he passed nearly instantly of a heart attack 22 years ago. She overcame breast cancer and various eye ailments fighting through with a positive attitude and strong belief. She saw each of her three siblings pass before she did and having her younger brother Gerry die so suddenly was particularly hard on her. There is no doubt that this great place of worship St, Margaret’s, was critical to Elie’s belief, strength and core being. There were so many great memories here for her including weddings, christenings and baptisms and much reflection on those lost and God’s plan. She often spent 6 days a week here and the priests and parishioners were some of the most important people in her life. She was fortunate enough to meet and spend time with the four great-grandchildren she cherished. The vacations we took together in recent years invigorated her, and she adored spending time and holidays with little Jacob. She was able to talk to my three kids the day before she died giving them advice about life that I hope they will always remember. For me, the memories of and bond with Elie began at very young age and I feel blessed to have had such a close relationship with her, much like I enjoy seeing the same bond developing with my children and their grandparents. If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times, the stories of asking her to scratch my back in the middle of the night or begging her to rescue me if my parents had sent me off to bed before I was ready. From the age of five, dinners of steamers and lobsters were a regular summer tradition both because the bonding time was special but also because unlike most grandmothers Elie wasn’t blessed with extraordinary culinary skills. Her signature dish was putting butter and bread crumbs on lobster meat. During college, I would come over periodically on Sundays to spend time with her, have lobster pie and to have my laundry done some times complaining of a “cold” that surely had nothing to do with the previous night’s activities on Comm Ave though she always showed great sympathy and compassion. We continued the near weekly calls these last 20 years and I am sure the reality of her being gone will hit me when I pick up the phone to dial her number as I did instinctively thousands of times. As she always wanted, her mind was sharp to the end and her voice was strong and enthusiastic. She was cognizant of current affairs, especially her beloved Boston sports team including the damn Patriots. She fought hard over the last few weeks but finally her heart gave out. However, we all know she is in a much better place now, reuniting with loved ones in her final resting spot that she longed for and richly deserved. All of us here loved her deeply and will miss her terribly. We love you Elie.