Ellen Mary O’Shea (Merullo), age 94 of Natick, died peacefully in her sleep on August 29, 2026. Ellen was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland on May 5, 1932. She was the second youngest of Michael and Mary O’Shea’s fifteen children. Of her siblings, the five who survived to adulthood include her sister Connie, of Colorado, and the late Robert, Donal, and Della, all of Ireland.

Ellen is survived by her three sons, John Merullo of Shrewsbury, Joseph Merullo of Framingham, and Jim Merullo of Natick. She was the mother-in-law of the late Donna Merullo of Shrewsbury, Dorothy Merullo of Framingham, and Amy Harris of Natick. Ellen is also survived by her grandchildren Devin Merullo and his partner Carolina Gonzales of Houston, Texas; Fiona Gronenthal and her husband Gavin of Los Angeles, California; and Nora Merullo of Natick. Ellen also leaves her great-granddaughter Jean Gronenthal of Los Angeles, California. Ellen was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Donna, her ex-husband and father of her children, Henry “Joe” Merullo of Rockland; and her siblings including Robert, Donal, and Della.

Ellen immigrated to the United States in October 1962, the week before the Cuban Missile Crisis. She worked as a nanny for the Rabb/Goldberg family, the owners of Stop and Shop supermarkets at the time. In Faneuil Hall on March 11, 1993, her family proudly watched as she became an American Citizen.

Ellen held strong religious convictions and was a daily communicant at St. Patrick’s Parish in Natick for many years. She was particularly devoted to The Virgin Mary, and enjoyed completing pilgrimages to locations where she believed Mary appeared, including Knock, Ireland; Lourdes, France; Fatima, Portugal; Betania, Venezuela; and Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. For many years she was active at the Betania II Retreat Center in Medway, Massachusetts.

In her later years, Ellen worked as a receptionist for several technology and healthcare companies in Massachusetts. She retired while working for Caritas Christi Healthcare.

Ellen traveled throughout her retirement. She enjoyed trips with her sons and their families to the American Southwest, Wisconsin, Quebec, Cape Cod, the coast of Maine, Ireland, and various international pilgrimages including Israel, where in addition to visiting sacred sites, and daily devotions, she rode a camel.

Ellen was known for her sense of humor and spunk. A great conversationalist, she made friends wherever she went, including befriending an entire pack of Irish Football fans on a European trip. She was skilled at a range of hobbies from candlepin bowling to gardening. Ellen had an adventurous spirit and wasn’t afraid to climb a mountain, hop in a canoe, let a boa constrictor wrap around her waist, or try any new food (except sushi, although she loved seafood.) She also enjoyed a nightly dram of Irish Mist followed by a bowl of vanilla ice cream. 

Her television was always on, unless she couldn’t get the remote working, and she enjoyed watching comedies, British dramas, and occasionally South Park. She was also an early fan of The Simpsons and laughed for three days when Moe revealed that he was a snake handler.

A wake will be held at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home in Natick on Monday, September 21st from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church in Natick on September 22nd at 10:00 a.m., followed by a burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Natick. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ellen’s name to Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton or to a local community food bank. For online guestbook and directions, please visit: www.everettfuneral.com