Ellen M. Olbrych

Chicopee- Ellen M. (Connolly) Olbrych, 81, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Springfield, a daughter of the late Patrick and Mary (Maize) McKenna Connolly, her father was a native of Tuam, Galway, Ireland and her mother a native of Holyoke, MA. Ellen was a graduate of Sacred Heart Grammar and High School, and the former Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing Science from Springfield Technical Community College. Upon graduating from Nursing School, she began work as an OR Nurse at Mercy Hospital. Her uncle Grover recruited her as a flight attendant for the U.S. Overseas Airlines in Cape May, NJ for a brief period of time. When Ellen came back to the Hungry Hill area, she worked as a nurse at the Westfield Sanatorium. She met her husband Wally at a dance and together they had two children. Ellen proudly stayed home to be with her children while also volunteering at Our Lady Of Hope school (nudged by her Aunt, Sr. Mary Thomas SSJ). Once her kids were old enough, she reentered the nursing field at the Westover Job Corps. While at Westover, a former colleague recruited her to work at Community Substance Abuse Center, in Northampton and Chicopee, where she continued to work before retiring at age 70.  Following retirement, Ellen continued working at CSAC one day a week for a few more years.  Ellen was a lifetime member of the Mercy Hospital Nurses Alumnae Association. Ellen grew up in the North End section of Springfield, and resided in Chicopee for the past 55 years. She will be deeply missed by her loving husband Wallace Olbrych and dear children, Sean Olbrych of Greenwich CT, and Kara (Olbrych) Finken and her husband Peter, of Simsbury CT, and two loving grandchildren, Andrew and Mckenna Finken. She also leaves her brother John (Jack) T. Connolly and his wife Linda, of Enfield CT. Ellen is also survived by her friends from nursing school, fondly known as the “Ladies Night Group”, Judy Henshaw, Peg (Tabb) Tiley and Patty Rathbun, and was predeceased by her friend Maureen Finn. Ellen was also faithful and loyal to her friends, the “Mermaids”, at the Elms College pool. When not watching black and white movies on TCM, she treasured attending her grandchildren’s numerous activities over the years and cheering for them at West Point rugby and WPI basketball games.  Relatives and friends are asked to gather directly at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street in Springfield on Friday April 22, 2022, for a calling hour from 10-11a.m., with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00, with committal services immediately following Mass.  Donations are kindly requested in lieu of flowers and can be made to: The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield; 577 Carew Street  Springfield, MA  01104.  http://ssjspringfield.org/partnerwithus/makeagift/memorialgifts/  To leave your condolences or share a memory with the family, please visit www.CorridanFuneral.com