…Loyal wife and mother of a large Belvidere family.
LOWELL - Mrs. Eleanor Joanne “Ellie” (Reid) LaBranche, age 78, died peacefully early Monday morning, February 27, from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease, at the Blairehouse of Tewksbury. Up until her December Birthday, Eleanor had lived in her cozy home with much love, care and support from family, friends, Elder Services and Community Family. Ellie was the beloved wife of the late Joseph George LaBranche for 40 years.
She was born in Lowell, on December 22, 1938, one of eight children of the late Joseph and Agnes (Nowacki) Reid, and was a lifelong resident of Lowell. She graduated from Lowell High School with the Class of 1956, and lived her early years in Centerville. Although most of her adult life was spent on River Road in Belvidere, she had resided in NH, FL and SC a short while.
Besides raising her many children, she worked as a Tax Examiner for the IRS, Andover Service Center, Andover, MA.
Ellie was lovingly described as “the heart of the home,” a welcoming mother with an open and accepting home to her children, her extended family, and friends. She was an accomplished cook and baker, loved to sew and make quilts, enjoyed spring gardening, and had a soft spot for animals.
She and her late husband were well known members of the East End Social Club of Lowell. They loved to dance, and traveled extensively. Eleanor was also a Communicant of St. Michael’s Church.
She leaves her children, Linda M. Henry and her husband Mark of Lowell, Laura J. Alexander and her husband Daniel of Hollywood, SC, Beth Brennan and her husband George of The Colony, TX, Matthew LaBranche and his wife Pamela of Lowell, Gregory LaBranche and his wife Larissa of Lowell, Kel LaBranche and his wife Mireya of Vero Beach, FL, Joseph George LaBranche, Jr. and his wife Sandra of South Thomaston, ME; her daughter-in-law Sandra (Dombrowsky-LaBranche) Dionne of Nashua, NH who was wife of the late Timothy LaBranche (1962-1984); fourteen grandchildren; six great grandchildren; five siblings, Mildred V. Connolly of Prescott, AZ, Patricia A. Plante of Phoenix, AZ, Jacqueline Autino and her husband Arthur of Prescott Valley, AZ, Robert T. Reid of Cape Coral, FL, and William P. Reid of West Palm Beach, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was also predeceased by her brothers Joseph J. Reid Jr., formerly of Methuen, and Raymond J. Reid, formerly of El Paso, TX. Also, ex-wife to the late Sam J. Grasso, formerly of Pelham, NH and SC.
Memorial Visiting hours Friday, March 31, from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. A Memorial Prayer Service will follow Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Committal Service will be held Saturday, April 1, at 12:00 Noon in St. Mary Cemetery, No. Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA & NH, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472, will be appreciated. tewksburyfuneralhome.com