Ellen M. Dukes

Dr. Ellen Dukes, 77, of Natick, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, November 5. She was cared for lovingly by friends and family and she was so grateful that they enabled her to spend her final days in her home. Ellen was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 15, 1947. She was the daughter of Earl and Elizabeth (Lutes) Dukes, and stepdaughter of Marion Moody Kruse. She is survived by her brother, Robert (Bert) Dukes, and his wife, Wanda; her stepsister, Marienne Kruse Skinner; her stepbrothers, Joseph Fowler Kruse and John Brette Kruse; many nieces and nephews; countless friends across the country (many of whom became her family); and her beloved dog, Archie, who is now being cared for by dear friends. Ellen gave a loving home over the years to many dogs, and she was preceded in death most recently by her girl, Gracie, and by her sweet boy, Henri.

Ellen grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Our Lady of the Assumption Elementary School and graduated from St. Pius the X High School. Shortly after graduation, she entered religious life, and she joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet in Kansas City. She was a member of this community for over 20 years. She became a nurse and studied at Catholic University for her M.S. in Nursing, and later her PHD. She decided to go out on her own and separate from religious life over 30 years ago. She left direct care nursing and worked for Pfizer and others doing pharmaceutical research. She continued to do this up until last year.

Ellen was a woman of keen, sharp intellect. She also was a woman of acerbic humor, deep reflective introspection, and with great strength, compassion, and depth. She was generous, funding several scholarships over the years. She volunteered as an ombudsperson at a local nursing home, for several years doing regular visits to make sure the patients were getting good care. She loved Cary Grant, and knew everything there was to know about him. She even named her dog, Archie after Cary Grant’s real name, Archibald.  She loved music and singing, and one of her favorite songs was Schuman’s “Ava Maria,” which she enjoyed singing with her friends. She often participated in lunches at the Heritage with her crew. Anyone who knew Ellen knew that she was a very direct communicator, and she had no fear in speaking her mind. She was gentle with her patients, though. She told a story about one of her patients who came into the hospital while she was a young nurse at change of shift. This older man was very ill, and terribly frightened that he was going to die alone. It was Christmas eve, and she had places to be – but she stayed with him all night and was with him when he died the next morning Most of all, Ellen was a person of great love and substance. She lived a life of service and compassion. She did her part to make the world a better place. 

We will miss you, Ellen –the deep discussions, talking about old movies, telling stories about your life, hashing over politics. Rest in peace. You fought the good fight, enduring loss, suffering, and illness with grace and dignity. Your love and service will live long after you.

We would like to thank her care team from Right at Home and Care Dimensions for being so loving and kind to her in her last days.

Donations in Ellens' memory may be made to the MSPCA, Angel, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 or http://www.mspca.org

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