ELLEN JULIA HAWKINS
November 20, 1934 – January 24, 2023
Monroe, NY
Ellen Julia Hawkins of Monroe, New York entered into eternal rest on January 24, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88 years old. Ellen was predeceased in 2020 by her loving husband, John B. Hawkins, Jr., after a 63-year storybook marriage.
The daughter of the late Martin O’Connell and Claire (O’Brien) O’Connell, Ellen was born on November 20, 1934, in the Bronx, NY. She attended St. Barnabas High School and was an honors graduate of Saint Mary’s College (now Pace University).
A lifelong devout Catholic, Ellen was an active member of the St. Thomas of Canterbury parish in Cornwall, NY and a Eucharistic Minister at the St. Anastasia Parish in Harriman, NY. For over fifteen years, Ellen was a long-time, highly valued employee of Minolta Corporation. In retirement, she devoted her time as a substitute employee for the Monroe-Woodbury, Goshen, Washingtonville, and Cornwall school districts which allowed her to be amongst the younger generation.
Ellen was an avid reader, jazz enthusiast, and football fanatic with a fondness for Notre Dame. She never missed a sporting event and was a proud MW fan. She enjoyed dancing the Jitterbug, the Lindy, and the Charleston and she even won a few dance contests with her husband John. Ellen was a glee club singer and often broke into "Irish Eyes are Smiling" or "Danny Boy" while she sipped her morning tea. Everyone in the Monroe community will remember Ellen as a wonderful mother of eight, a devoted wife to John that melded them as one, in a welcoming home which was a sanctuary for the friends of her children. Her family was her life. Her love and generosity were felt by all and she could always be found in the kitchen, making everyone a big breakfast or baking brownies to bring to her grandchildren.
Ellen Julia Hawkins was a spiritual, compassionate Irishwoman who lived her life selflessly as a devoted mother to her surviving children, their spouses, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren: Ellen Marie Buzzone (Natale) of Washingtonville, NY, Kathleen Harrington (Richard) of Nantucket, MA, John B. Hawkins, III of Nantucket, MA, Theresa Ryback (Ty) of Goshen, NY, Margaret DePaolo (Joseph) of Washingtonville, NY, Francis Hawkins (Kimberly) of Clifton Park, NY, Matthew Hawkins (Jeanette) of Falmouth, MA, and Andrew Hawkins (Alexandra) of Jacksonville, FL; seventeen grandchildren: Michael Castellano, Christopher Castellano, Philip Buzzone, Danielle Briard, Corinne Muffly, Devin Ryback, Madison Ryback, Joseph DePaolo, Michael DePaolo, Anastasia DePaolo, John Hawkins, Emily Hawkins, Julia Hawkins, Jake Ward, Isabella Hawkins, Gavin Hawkins, and Lincoln Hawkins; and six great grandchildren: Avery Briard, Garrett Briard, Tabitha Muffly, Brayden Muffly, Enzo Buzzone, and Carmine Buzzone: and her sister: Margaret (O’Connell) Jones; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17th at Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., 337 Hudson Street Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18th at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY.
Arrangements are entrusted to Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc.; to send condolences or to get directions to the funeral home, please go to www.Quigleybros.com