BUCKEYE, AZ: Melinda A. “Mindy” (Westerlind) Elwell, age 49, a former resident of Shrewsbury and North Attleborough, died peacefully after a long illness at her home in Buckeye, Arizona, on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. She was the devoted wife of Richard A. Elwell.
Born in Monmouth, NJ, and raised and educated in North Attleborough, she was a daughter of Paul and the late Beverly Ann (Greenfield) Westerlind. She was a graduate of Bishop Feehan High School in neighboring Attleborough and continued her education at Bridgewater State College. She earned both Baccalaureate and Master’s Degrees there, the latter in clinical psychology.
Mindy and Rich met and married while at Bridgewater. She was working toward her PhD when their first child arrived. Curtailing further studies, Mindy threw herself into motherhood with great joy, one that did not diminish with time. She and Rich settled in Shrewsbury where they created a home for their family that was warm and welcoming, open to friends old and new.
The Elwells moved to Buckeye in 2005. Mindy pursued an ambition to become a Life Coach and planned to return to school. Not long thereafter she was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma, learned all she could about the disease and embarked on her personal crusade to defeat it. Mindy co-authored and published a book, Defy & Conquer, A State of Mind Against Terminal Brain Cancer in 2015, and spent much of that year traveling to book signings. The book was critically acclaimed and there are countless testimonials from those whom it has helped and encouraged. Remembered most for her love of family, Mindy’s ability to make others feel as though they were the only other person in the room will be sorely missed by those fortunate enough to call her friend.
She is survived by Rich; their children Richard P. Elwell, Angela R. Elwell, and Domenic M. Elwell, all of Buckeye; her father, Paul Westerlind and his companion, Cynthia Burden of Norton; a sister, Karen Davidson and her husband Michael of Gardner; two brothers, Paul Westerlind Jr and his wife Johanna of Pawtucket, RI, and Joel Westerlind of Hopkinton, RI; her mother-in-law, Marie T. (Salvi) Elwell and a sister-in-law, Janene Goudreault and her husband David of Sherborn; two brothers-in-law, Scott Elwell of Framingham, and Todd Elwell and his wife Brenda of Holliston; her nieces and nephews, Kayla Manfredi, Nicole Davidson, Paige, Ryan, Lissette, Samuel, and Harrison Westerlind, Jessica, Jeffrey, Jackie, and Johnny Goudreault, and Charlotte Elwell; an aunt, Barbara and Vernon Middleton of Amarillo, TX; two uncles, William and Patricia Westerlind of Auburn, and James Greenfield of Shrewsbury; and many loving extended family members and friends. She also predeceased by her father-in-law, Richard L. Elwell.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Theresa of Lisieux Church, 35 South Main Street (Rte. 27), Sherborn, on Saturday, November 26th at 10:00 A.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sherborn.
Visiting hours will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Friday, 4 – 7 P.M. Interment Pine Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Elwell Children’s Support Trust, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 31 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA 01770 (508) 655-5415, would be appreciated.