Ellen Cummiskey O’Grady
Jun 5th, 2015
Ellen Cummiskey O’Grady, 93, of West Dennis, died Friday, June 5, 2015, at the McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich after a brief illness.
She was born and raised in West Warwick, Rhode Island. While attending Rhode Island College of Education in Providence, she met her future husband, Daniel O’Grady. They married in 1941 and during their 62 years of marriage, she followed him on many adventures.
They lived in Providence until 1950 when Dan accepted a teaching coaching position at Danbury high School in Connecticut.
During her 38 years in Danbury, Ellen raised 4 children and worked part time at the Danbury Public Library. She also belonged to a close-knit Bridge group.
In 1988, Ellen and Dan moved to Glendale, Arizona for “One Last Adventure.”
After Dan’s death in 2003, Ellen moved back East to live with her daughter in West Dennis.
When asked about an obituary, Mom said “Write this: I was born, I lived, I died” While she lived , she tirelessly supported her husband, kept in touch with friends across the country through the lost art of letter writing, and played hostess to all with tasty home baked goods.
She had a great fashion sense and matched all outfits to the occasion. As a young woman, she loved horseback riding. She was an avid reader and constant patron of the West Dennis Library.
Listening to classical music, admiring nature and its changing seasons, and asking philosophical questions which had no answers kept her remarkable mind sharp until the end.
Ellen was predeceased by her husband Dan and her brother Cornelius. She is survived by 4 children: Ellen Evans of West Dennis, Louise Hunt of Danbury, CT, Jane O’Grady of Bethlehem, CT and Dan O’Grady and his wife, Barbara, of Pointe Lucerne, MO. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild; and sister-in-law, Corinne Cummiskey of Warwick, RI and several nieces and nephews.
Mom requested no formal services, so we will honor her wishes but gather at a later date to celebrate her life. Ellen’s constant advice during her last year: “If you live this long, you had better have a good sense of humor!”
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to: The O’Grady Scholarship Fund, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Park Place East, Winsted, CT 06098 (Donations NCCC-O’Grady Scholarship Fund)