Eleanor (Ellie) M. Brown, 74, of Gloucester, Mass., passed away peacefully at her home, Monday, June 25, 2012, after a long illness with emphysema. She was surrounded by her family.
Ellie, daughter of the late Edith (Bean) and Lloyd Sanders was born in Dover, N.H., on Aug. 16, 1937.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Charles Brown; son, Stan Smith; sister, Jan Hanscom; and brother, Ted Sanders.
Article Photos
Eleanor M. Brown
She spent her younger years growing up in New Hampshire until 1950 when her family relocated to Haverhill, Mass.
She attended Haverhill High School and received her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse while attending Whittier Vocational in Haverhill.
She married Merrill Smith Jr. in 1954 and together they had three children, Thelma Millard of Gloucester, Mass., Stan Smith and Scott Smith of Pennsylvania.
Ellie remarried in 1976 to Charles Brown of Canton, Pa.
Ellie worked at the Amesbury Hospital until she relocated to Pennsylvania at which time she worked at Ephrata Community Hospital. She went on to specialize in her career with employment at the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center located in Blossburg, Pa.
Midway through life, Ellie changed her career path to work along side of her husband Charlie. Charlie was a truck driver who transported double wide homes and Ellie had the opportunity to drive the escort car. They both did this for several years.
Her last employment was in Canton, Pa., where she worked for Shop Vac.
Ellie and her husband enjoyed their large garden and would cook and can vegetables for their winters ahead. She was also known to make some wonderful pies and jams for her friends and family.
It was not unusual to find Ellie with a fishing pole in her hand looking to put a worm or grasshopper on the hook to go across the road and drop her line in the creek to catch a trout or two.
During the winter months, she would keep busy knitting and crocheting or playing cards with her friends.
She had many friends in Merrimac, Mass., and in her 30 years in Pennsylvania she made many friends who would stop by daily to chat.
When her husband Charlie died six years ago, she moved back to Massachusetts to be close to her siblings and daughter's family along the seaside of Gloucester, Mass.
She spent these remaining years with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will miss her immensely.
Ellie is survived by her daughter, Thelma Millard of Gloucester, Mass.; son, Scott Smith of Pa.; stepdaughter, Sue and husband Russ Kelly of Mansfield, Pa.; stepson, Joe Brown and wife Virginia of Quarryville, Pa.; sister, Shirley (Sanders) and brother-in-law Howard Esty of Groveland, Mass.; sister, Peggy Farrington of Franklin, N.H.; brother, Bob and sister-in-law Shirley Sanders of Sarasota, Fla.; and daughter-in-law, Anne Hurst of Gardner, Mass.
Grandchildren include Bert Smithson of Gloucester, Mass., Ben Smithson of Gloucester Mass., Katie Richardson (Smith) and husband Joe, Columbus, Ga., Shane, Brandon and Trisha Hetzel from Pa., and Nicole and Joseph Brown also from Pa.
Great-grandchildren include Ashlie, Kyriah and Camron Smithson, all from Gloucester, as well as Kylie Kelly and Alexis McMurray from Pa.
Ellie has many beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews as well.
The family would like to thank all who donated their time in helping to make her final days filled with love and companionship.
There are no funeral services. Those who wish to make a donation in Ellie's name may do so to: Asera Care Hospice, 40 Washington St., Ste. 100, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
Arrangements are by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester, MA.
Online condolences may be given at: www.greelyfuneralhome.com.
