Hegarty, Ellen Smith of Wellesley, MA passed away peacefully on April 12, 2019 at the age of 97. She was the wife of the late William Hegarty. Ellen, grew up in Needham, MA and was predeceased by her brother Francis Smith and her sister Estelle Kimtis. She was a thirteen year resident of Elizabeth Seton Residence in Wellesley, MA.
In addition to her sister, Jean Ferris of Houston, TX, Ellen is survived by her five children, Margaret Neale of Middletown, CT; Cathleen Morrison of Lexington, MA; Carol –Hegarty Moody of Brookfield, MA,; William Hegarty and his partner Gina Pratt of Centerville, MA ; Maryellen Salamone and her husband Paul of Needham, MA.; and her goddaughter Jean Ann Rousseau of Millis, MA. She was Grammy to Heather and Bryan Donovan, Emily Mastrioanni, Pamela and Matthew Dean, Thomas Salamone, Julia Salamone, MaryKate Hegarty, and Clair Hegarty and Great- Grammy to Ava Donovan, Conall Donovan, Stella Mastrioanni, Louis Mastrioanni, Will Dean and Hannah Dean. Ellen was a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews.
During Ellen’s long and full life, she balanced family, the farm, gardening, and working part- time as a bookkeeper, floral designer and cake decorator. Ellen had friendships that spanned decades with childhood friends, members of Bay State Cake Club, Women’s Aglow in Sanford, ME and York County Extension. She forged a close bond with the residents and staff at Elizabeth Seton.
A memorial service will be held at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, Wellesley, on Saturday, April 20, at 10:30am with a visitation prior to the service from 9:30am-10:30am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Elizabeth Seton Residence, 125 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 for the care provided to Ellen or to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.