Ellen M. Sullivan, 68, of Hampstead, NH, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 9, 2010 in the SalemHaven Nursing Home surrounded by her loving family. Ellen was born in County Sligo, Ireland on May 1, 1941, daughter of the late John and Kate (Collins) Murray. She came to the United States from Ireland when she was 17. She soon met her loving husband, Daniel. They were married in St. Ann's Church in Somerville, MA in 1967. They moved to Hampstead in 1977 where she was a resident ever since. Ellen worked as a residential housekeeper and in 1988 became a housekeeper for a Derry nursing home for many years. She was a communicant of St. Anne Parish in Hampstead. Every year she looked forward to and took her three week trip to Ireland to visit family and friends, where she was affectionately known as "Nellie". Ellen enjoyed knitting, making scarves and afghans, but she loved playing bingo, sometimes up to four nights a week. Her local neighborhood was her extended family and was a very important part of her life. Her perfect day could be as simple as a visit from her children, family, or friends while drinking a cup of tea.
She is survived by her husband, Daniel F. Sullivan Sr., of Hampstead; her daughter, Christine E. Pelletier and her husband, Christopher, of Hampstead; her son, Daniel F. Sullivan, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, of Salem, NH; two granddaughters, Corrie and Lindsey Sullivan, both of Salem; a sister, Elizabeth Gallagher, of County Sligo, Ireland; and is also survived by many nieces and nephews who adored her. She was predeceased by four brothers: Tom, Patrick, Peter and John Murray; and by a sister, Mary "Molly" Murray.
Visiting hours were held on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 4-8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated 10:30am Friday in St. Anne Church, 26 Emerson Ave., Hampstead. The burial was in the Lakeview Cemetery, Hampstead.