Louise Briggs Jellison passed away on Monday, June 15, 2015, five days prior to her 99th birthday. Louise was married to her beloved husband of 40 years, the late Robert E. Jellison, World War II Veteran and avid Barbershopper. She leaves behind her children, Howard E. Jellison of East Freetown, Dr. Anne Jellison and her husband Dr. Richard Celio of Canton CT, and Paul Jellison and his wife Ann-Marie of Fairhaven; her grandsons, John R. Jellison and Dr. Evan Jellison and his wife Hillary; and her great grandsons, Leo and Levi Jellison. She was predeceased by her brothers, Elbert Briggs and Everett Briggs, her daughter-in-law Florence "Lee"( Robert) Jellison, and her step grandson Robby Thatcher. She also leaves a large extended family to celebrate her life: Tanya and Jared Oldham and their daughters Corinne and Vivian, Chris and Tiffany Celio and their children Carson and Will, Stephen and Donna Celio and their sons Andrew and Owen, Matt and Audra Celio and their children Joe and Bella, and Sarah Celio Krenk and her husband Dr. Daniel Krenk, the Jellison Cousins, and the Robert Family.
Louise, Weezie to some, also leaves many generations of wonderful friends from the old Summer and Durfee Street neighborhood where she lived most of her life, and the firemen from Station 7 who were so good to her for many years. Her friends at North Baptist Church were an important part of her life. She was blessed with devoted pastors. The family extends a special thank you to Pastor Deb Lee for her kind attention for the past several years.
Louise was an avid knitter and loved the beach, especially Camp Sea Space where she spent many happy hours with the Wards and the Leaheys. She remained connected to her classmates for New Bedford High School Class of 1934 and active in Girl Scouting for much of her life. She was honored by the City of New Bedford for her work at the polls every election for 75 years.
The family extends their gratitude to the staffs at Autumn Glen and Hathaway Manor, Community Nurse and Hospice Care, and the PCU and Hospice Staffs at St. Luke's Hospital.
Friends may call at the Saunders Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford on Thursday, June 18, 2015 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. There will be a celebration of Louise's life at the North Baptist Church, 750 County Street, New Bedford at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 19, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana Farber Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.