Ellen Mae Melfi

Ellen Mae (Larson) Melfi, a longtime resident of Monroe, and a devoted loving wife with five children, 13 grandchildren and six plus great-grandchildren, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2017. She fought a long and brave battle against Alzheimer's. Ellen was born July 16, 1933 in Stamford to the late Ernest and Ellen (Dalghren) Larson, where at the age of 13 she met her best friend and soulmate, Vito. She graduated from Stamford High School in 1951 and worked as a bookkeeper for Walden Book. She and Vito married in 1955 and moved to Monroe in 1961. In 1973 after raising her family, she was asked to be the first parish secretary for St. Jude's Parish, where she worked until her retirement in 1998. She was a compassionate and loving woman, a devout Roman Catholic, an active member of St. Jude and a relentless volunteer for the Parish and its concerns. She will be remembered for her undying devotion to her family and was at her happiest at family gatherings. Ellen was an avid seamstress and in earlier years, sewed vestments for parish priests and banners for the Church. She was a proud member of the St. Jude Quilter's Group. She also enjoyed the quiet peace of her flower gardens. Always with a smile or hand to lend, she was highly respected and will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by family, friends and former co-workers alike.

Besides her loving husband of 62 years, Vito, she is survived by her children, Susan St. Pierre (Shelton); Matthew (Susan) Melfi (IN); CT State Retired Sgt. Walter (Gloria) Melfi (Woodbury); Mark (Linda) Melfi (NC); and Lynn (Robert) DeVerna (NY), her grandchildren, Jennifer (Matthew) Kochiss; Marc (Chris) St. Pierre; Dana (Ryan) Firmender; Jeff (Carla) St. Pierre; Daniel (Vanessa), Thomas (Jessica), Ashley, Steven, Army 1st Lt. Nicholas (Joni), Lucas and Will Melfi; Maggie and Grace De Verna. She was Nonnie to Andrew, Joshua, Jacob and Leah Kochiss and Vincent and Sofia Firmender. She also leaves her younger siblings, Barbara Olsen (Durham) and Ernest Larson (Stamford), and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters, Jane Guinta, Betty Blanchard, Peggy Merrifield, Vivian Larson, Dorothy Bugbee, and brothers, Jack, Walter and Robert Larson.

In lieu of flowers, and in her continued spirit to help those in need, the family has requested donations to the St. Jude Parish Food Bank or St. Jude Parish.

Friends are invited to meet directly at St. Jude Parish for a Mass of Celebration of her life on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Jude Parish. Calling hours are on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Spadaccino Community Funeral Home in Monroe, CT. Burial will be private. To light a candle and sign a guest book in memory of Ellen, please visit www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com. "A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go" (author unknown).