BEVERLY: Laura (Tanzella) Ellsworth, 101, formerly of Beckford Street, died Monday, September 10, 2007 in the Blueberry Hill Healthcare. She was the wife of the late Norbert “Neil” Ellsworth who died in March of 1955.
Born in Beverly on August 19, 1906, she was the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Angela (Mercieri) Tanzella. She was raised in Beverly and graduated from Beverly High School. She also attended many continuing evening classes.
Mrs. Ellsworth moved to New York City in 1930, where she was employed by the Federal Security Agency, U.S. Public Health Services at Ellis Island. She met her future husband Neil and married him on November 28, 1938 in New York. She resigned from her job on Ellis Island in 1942 and returned to Beverly when her husband went into the U.S. Army in 1942. She then went to work at the U. S. Navy recruiting center in Salem.
After World War II she worked at the former Sarasota Popcorn Factory in Beverly, Parker Brothers Games in Salem and the Beverly Y.M.C.A.
She was a prominent member of the Gloucester Crossing Improvement Association and a life member of both the Daughters of Isabella and The Beverly Senior Citizens Club. She was also a communicant of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Beverly. Laura enjoyed her home and was an avid gardener and enjoyed many hobbies including collecting antiques, painting, rug braiding, reading, taking long walks and entertaining her family on holidays. She adored her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph Tanzella of Beverly, four nieces, Louise and her husband, Richard Cunningham of Beverly and Venice, FL, Marie Tosi and her husband, Francis of E. Providence, RI, Rita Tanzella of Revere and Ann Lessor and her husband, Philip of Marblehead, five nephews, Ralph and his wife, Diane Parisella of Beverly, Joseph Earabino of Hudson, NH, Charles and his wife, Paula Earabino of Beverly and Boynton Beach, FL, Charles and his wife, Marie Tanzella of Fountain, CO and Robert Badcock of Peabody and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was also predeceased by three brothers, John “Jack”, Charles and Nicholas Tanzella, three sisters, Elizabeth Parisella, Mary Earabino and Louise Malloy, a niece, Mary Louise (Malloy) Westhoff and five nephews, Paul, Joseph and John Parisella, Richard Earabino and James Tanzella.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Cabot Street, Beverly at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday evening in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the “Resident Activity Fund” of the Blueberry Hill Healthcare, 75R Brimbal Ave., Beverly, MA 01915. The family wishes to express its gratitude for the loving care provided by the staff of Blueberry Hill Healthcare. Interment will be held in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly.