Ellen deMello Weiland

Ellen deMello Weiland

Ellen deMello Weiland, 96, died Sunday, November 29, 2009, at The Colonnades in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A long-time resident of Birmingham, Alabama, Mrs. Weiland enjoyed a prestigious reputation as an artist both locally and regionally. Her paintings are included in private and public collections in South America and the United States, including The Birmingham Museum of Art.

Mrs. Weiland was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Henry J. Weiland.

She was born in Syracuse, New York, a daughter of Dr. Lopo and Marguerite deMello and sister of Nancy deMello.

She was a citizen of the world, having lived in Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Pakistan, France and Malaysia in addition to the United States.

Ellen Weiland is survived by a son, Henry J. Weiland and his wife, Sherry, of Asheville, North Carolina; and a daughter, Wendy W. Burns and her husband, Harry, of Crozet, Virginia; grandchildren include, Scott Weiland of New York City, David Weiland of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Andy Martin of Asheville, North Carolina, Jennifer B. O'Leary of Bethesda, Maryland, and Douglas Burns of Charlottesville, Virginia. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Kevin and Casey O'Leary and Kathryn and Eliza Burns.

Educated in Europe, South America and the United States, she graduated from Syracuse University College of Fine Arts in painting and pursued further professional studies at MacKenzie College, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Art Academy of the Cincinnati Museum of Art, and the Art Education Council of The Birmingham Museum of Art.

Her work has been shown internationally and extensively in the Southeast. She served on the boards of the Alabama Water Color Society, Birmingham Art Association, and the Art Education Council of the Birmingham Museum of Art. She was an active member of The Village Painters.

Ellen and her husband were avid gardeners everywhere they lived. Their Birmingham garden was featured in Southern Accents and was frequently on garden tours.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, December 5, 2009, at the Monroe/Wilson Room at The Colonnades.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in honor of Casey Weiland O'Leary to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Metro DC Chapter, 6917 Arlington Road, Suite 308, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.