GLOUCESTER: Ellen (Friend) O’Maley, 90, died Saturday, August 29, 2009 at the Den-Mar Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rockport. She was the loving wife of William K. O’Maley for thirty-eight years, until his passing in 1980. Ellen will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by her family and friends and by the many Cape Ann residents who knew her.
Ellen was born in Gloucester on July 16, 1919, daughter of the late Roscoe and Catherine Friend. She graduated from Gloucester High School in 1937. While being wife to William K. O’Maley and mother to their three sons, Ellen worked as an LPN at Addison Gilbert Hospital and as a Certified Optometric Assistant for Dr. George Cohen. In retirement, she exhibited and sold fine oil paintings on Cape Ann and around New England. She was an artist member of the North Shore Art Association and volunteered for NSAA, the Rockport Art Association, and Addison Gilbert Hospital.
Ellen maintained an active, energetic lifestyle into retirement, despite mounting physical challenges. She continued to travel the world with friends, painting in enviable locations. These trips took her across Europe and the Canadian glaciers, into the jungles of South America, around New Zealand and Australia, and down the Amazon. Long into her seventies, Ellen swam daily in the sea she loved. She enjoyed taking classes and sharing evenings of dining, music and theatre. Always ready with a laugh, Ellen took advantage of everything life had to offer.
Ellen is survived by three sons, William K. O’Maley, companion of June Catalini of Gloucester, Dana F., husband of Carol O’Maley of Leesburg, GA, and Terry G. O’Maley, companion of Vicki Bessey of Troy, ME; grandchildren, Alison of MA, Christopher of NV, Jason of TX, Josh and Tara both of GA; a great-granddaughter, Piper Leigh of GA; two sisters, Catherine, wife of Robert McKechnie of Gloucester and Virginia Flanagan of Manchester-by-the-Sea. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Natalie Anthony and Shirley Gemmallaro and brothers, Roscoe and Horace Friend.
Her funeral service will be held on Thursday morning in the Holy Family Parish, St. Ann Church at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 5 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Seaside Cemetery, Lanesville.