Ellen Marie Shanahan

Ellen M. Shanahan (Nana) passed away August 26, 2025. She was born in Yonkers, New York to Maurice and Helen Moore on November 2, 1937. She graduated from Gorton High School and then The College of Mount St. Vincent with a degree in education. Ellen answered the call for teachers for Catholic Schools in Oklahoma City where she met the love of her life, John T. Shanahan. They married in 1961 and after time in Virginia they settled on a small acreage in NW Oklahoma County to raise their family.
After the sudden loss of her husband, Ellen returned to teaching at St. Eugene Catholic School. She immersed herself in her family history, traveling to Ireland, and becoming an Irish citizen. She enjoyed reading, singing in the church choir, traveling, attending grandkids baseball, basketball, softball, and volleyball games, and family dinners on Sundays.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, John Sr.; daughters, Joan and Kathleen; parents, Maurice and Helen Moore; and brother, Robert Moore.
She is survived by her sister, Maureen Tarbox of Connecticut; son, John Jr. (Jenni) Shanahan of Edmond; grandchildren, Logan White of Oregon, Caitlin White of Harrah, Kylie Shanahan of Edmond, and John III (Mykala) Shanahan of Yukon; and great-grandsons, Colton and Zander of Harrah.
Our family would like to offer a special thank you to all who cared for mom (Nana), especially her hospice nurses, Becky Lovelace and Cindy Suenram, and the entire team at Mercy Hospice, as well as Diane Cooper and the caregivers at the Treadwell Heaven House in Oklahoma City.
Visitation with family present will be held at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service on Wednesday, September 3 from 5-8pm. Funeral Mass will be at St. Eugene Catholic Church, Thursday, September 4, at 11am.