Ellen Danielson, Boston public school teacher, philanthropic worker, and dedicated volunteer, died peacefully on Sunday, December 11 in her home at the Willows in Westboro, MA. Born in 1926, Ellen had turned 96 on December 8. She will be remembered as a person of compassion, resilience, humor and grace by her loving family and friends, including her daughter, Judy Danielson, cherished son-in-law Tom Gilmore, brother Emile Jacques, sister-in-law Mary Jacques, brother-in-law Ted Danielson; nieces and nephews Tom Gilson, John Jacques, Paul Jacques, Cindy Jacques, Julie Danielson, Karen Danielson, Annie Gilson, Patty Gilson and Kathy Mason; her former husband, John Danielson and her very dear friend and companion, Ted Edson.

 

She had said goodbye to many other friends and family over the years, including her beloved daughters Kathy and Janet; her sister Marie Gilson and Marie’s husband Tom Gilson; her brother Jack Jacques and his wife Carol; her niece and traveling companion, Muffy; her nephew Billy; her niece Elise; her mother and father in-law, John and Edna Danielson, dear friend Fred Rosen, and her best friend and roommate, Marion Briefer.

 

Ellen always gave of herself to others. It came naturally, whether it was as a teacher who chose to leave the suburbs to teach in the city, a volunteer who taught English as a second language through her eighties, an amazing mother, and as a friend quietly helping someone in need. Forever seeing the best  in people, she put others first in thought and action. She endured adversity and hardship with true strength and grace, always able to find joy, happiness and fun in life.

 

Ellen loved travel, big band music, dancing, socializing, bicycling, swimming, reading, the PBS News Hour, the ‘Why Not’ house in Maine, the MFA, elephants, the churches in Venice, dogs, Italy, beating anyone at cards, and a well-made gin and tonic. She had no patience for math or Brussels sprouts. Ellen was understatedly elegant in her style and manner, but could be caught wearing a silly hat if the occasion called for it.

_________________________________________________

 

Ellen had a great start in life. Born to Emile (Goppy) and Mary (Dranny) Jacques in New Haven, CT, she was part of a wonderful, intellectual and eccentric family. She has three siblings: Marie (Weeds), Jack, and Emile (Beans). They all had had a much loved nanny, Neen.

 

What a family: a fun-loving father with whom she would often go to the Yale Bowl where he played in college (she was most definitely not an NFL fan); a more disciplined mother who along with Neen (a huge Mets fan) made a great home for the family; an older sister filled with personality and a love of life (who once noted that had she been born later she would have been a captain of industry); a brother who bucked convention and left for sea at an early age, later turning that experience into a career building the well-known and respected Dutch Wharf Boatyard in Branford, CT; a younger brother who followed in his father’s footsteps to Yale and Yale Law (and who used his wit and charm to convince Ellen as a child that the stalks of asparagus were really the best part of the vegetable and that they should trade pieces). They all stayed in touch throughout their lives; many family reunions were had eating (always eating), drinking, pronouncing political opinions, playing badminton and croquet, and arguing over who got to do the Sunday Times crossword (Weeds usually won but Mary Jacques put up a fight).

 

In her early adult life, Ellen and her husband John followed John’s career to Cleveland OH and then to Needham MA. They lived the American dream, raising a family of three daughters, Kathy, Judy and Janet, as young children in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and as teenagers in Needham MA. Ellen was a full-time mom and homemaker when her girls were younger, creating a safe, happy and busy home for her family. She and John were civic minded and politically and socially aware, and raised their daughters accordingly. There were many family activities: camping trips, family reunions, special holiday times and parties. Dinners were always had as a family and the social and political issues of the day - particularly the civil rights movement – were thoroughly discussed. In every way, Ellen was a wonderful mother, wife, neighbor and friend.

 

Ellen began her career in earnest when Kathy was 12, finishing her bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State University and beginning to teach in downtown Cleveland, and then in Dorchester MA, when John became President of the Boston YMCA in 1970. During her time teaching first grade in Dorchester, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year. After the Boston school system downsized, Ellen began working at Associated Grantmakers (a philanthropic organization) in downtown Boston, where she helped the organization grow, made new friends, and thrived working in a busy and vital city where she and Judy would often meet for lunch during the workday.

 

Ellen retired from Associated Grant Makers in her sixties. She continued to work as a volunteer, teaching English as a Second Language and adult literacy in Roxbury until just five years ago. Ellen had a quiet commitment to contributing where it was most needed, so chose to teach outside of the Needham and Concord suburbs where she lived. She loved the vibrancy and diversity of the city and became friends with some of her adult students, delighting in learning about their culture and lives.

 

Ellen endured the loss of both Kathy and Janet to illness after moving to Needham. Kathy was in college in Ohio when she died, and while Ellen’s marriage ended after Kathy’s death, she continued to live in their beautiful house in Needham, during which time Janet became ill. Janet lived with Ellen in the Needham house as she underwent medical treatments, and Ellen’s devotion to and care of Janet during this time was an inspiration and testament to the strength and dignity of the human sprit.

 

After the end of her marriage and the death of Kathy and Janet, Ellen started a new chapter in her life, joining women’s clubs, book clubs, and investment clubs, making many new friends, and developing a passion for travel. She enjoyed the art and culture in Boston. She always had a beloved dog with whom she could exercise her deep appreciation of nature and natural beauty with many walks through local conservation lands and parks. She made a good and rewarding life for herself despite the heartbreak that visited her. She never let the death of her daughters, the loss of her teaching job, or the end of her marriage define her. She remained hopeful, optimistic and active, found delight in the small things in life, and continued to give back.

 

Ellen resided at The Willows Independent Living in Westboro for the last 14 years of her life. She loved her community of friends and the staff at the Willows, her games of cribbage on Saturdays, and her frequent backgammon games with Ted. Wherever Ellen is now there is a twinkle in her eye at having beat Ted at their last game of backgammon; Ellen hated to lose at games almost as much as she hated asparagus.

 

Thank you for visiting this site and remembering Ellen. For those of you who knew Ellen, you must feel lucky to have had such a remarkable person in your life.

 

Please hold a place for her in your heart. She was one of the good ones.