DRACUT: Ellen A. (Doole) Blackwell, age 87, a Dracut resident for 55 years, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at home.
For more than 60 years she was the beloved wife of James D. Blackwell, Jr., who passed away on December 11, 2006.
Born in Lowell on June 7, 1922, she was the daughter of the late George L. and Helen (Shanks) Doole.
Mrs. Blackwell attended Lowell Schools and graduated from Lowell High School in 1939. She subsequently began her career as a private secretary at the Waterhead Mills in Lowell. She held several part and full -time positions as a secretary or bookkeeper, including a position in the Dracut Selectman’s Office. Mrs. Blackwell was employed as the executive secretary for the former Dracut Superintendant of Schools, Dr. Christos Daoulas, from 1961-1970.
An active member of the Eliot Presbyterian Church of Lowell, Ellen was an Elder, Deacon, Clerk of Session, Sunday School Teacher, Junior Choir Mother, and Moderator of the Women’s Association. She served as a member or chair of many committees at the church over a period of more than 50 years. In addition, she was involved with feeding the homeless of Lowell through St. Paul’s Kitchen at the Eliot Presbyterian Church.
Ellen also served as Moderator of the Northern New England Presbytery and held a variety of other leadership positions in that organization. She participated in many committees of the Synod of the Northeast, held offices for the national United Presbyterian Women, and was a delegate to the national General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). A highlight of her church activities was her 1974 trip to India and Nepal as representative of the National Organization of Presbyterian Women’s Global Awareness Mission.
She was involved with, and served as an officer of, numerous ecumenical groups including local and state Church Women United, the Massachusetts Council of Churches, and the Massachusetts Christian Unity Council, of which she was secretary for 9 years.
Mrs. Blackwell volunteered at Saints Memorial Medical Center (formerly St. Joseph’s Hospital) for 36 years. She served as president of the Saints Memorial Women’s Auxiliary and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2001. She served as for twelve years as a Library Trustee at the Moses Greeley Parker Library in Dracut, often as chairperson. Other volunteer and service activities included the Dracut Historical Society and the YWCA of Greater Lowell , for which she was Chair of the Board of Directors.
According to her family, she was an avid tennis player and loved reading. Ellen enjoyed her travels with family and friends to Europe, the Middle East, Bermuda and Venezuela.
She is survived by one daughter, Elmina J. Hilsenrath and her husband Ernest of Laurel, MD; one son, George L. Blackwell of Dracut; one grandson, James D. Blackwell of Vail, CO; three step-grandchildren; four step-great grandchildren; one sister, Mary (Doole) (Amiot) Bennett and her husband Ralph of Tewksbury; also many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Blackwell was the sister of the late Anna G. Mansfield, George S., John A. and Josiah S. Doole.
A memorial service will be held Friday, June 11 at 11:00 AM at the Eliot Presbyterian Church, 273 Summer St., Lowell. At the request of the family there are No Calling Hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Eliot Presbyterian Church, 273 Summer St., Lowell, MA 01852 or to the MG Parker Library, 28 Arlington Street, Dracut, MA 01826 are requested.