Ellen Wilson

Ellen Wilson, 92 of Wallingford, CT died on Saturday December 13th at Pilgrim Manor Nursing Care Facility on the campus of Covenant Living, Cromwell, CT.
Ellen was born in New Haven, CT, the daughter of the late Margaret (Coffey) and the late Raymond L. Phillips. She loved to talk about her parents, her Dad a decorated World War I combat veteran and her Mom the bookkeeper who lost her dad at the age of 8 and then cared for her Mom most of her life. The late (d. 1948) Ellen Leonard Coffey, originally of Wallingford, lived with the Phillips family for 23 years on Canner Street, New Haven of which Ellen was a part of for 15 enjoyable years. Ellen loved helping her Nana Coffey whenever she could. Nana Coffey was a very special and loving beacon of hope for the Coffey and Phillips families. In her high school days, Ellen could often be seen standing in front of her father's flower shop in the late 40's and early 50's, which was located on the corner of Church and Chapel usually waiting for the bus. Ellen's sister the late (d. 2002) Marilyn Ann (Phillips) Happy, was idolized by Ellen who would say, "my sister was the chief librarian at the New Haven Public Library." Ellen and Marilyn had a close relationship all of their lives, celebrating the holidays, their kid's birthdays, school and church events, and vacations in Florida.
Ellen graduated from St. Mary's Catholic Academy, New Haven (class of 1951); received her bachelor's degree from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven (class of 1955); and received her master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University (class of 1976).
After graduating from Albertus Magnus College, Ellen went to work for the State of Connecticut, Welfare Department as a social worker in the summer of 1955. She had a wonderful one-year experience with her job and was strongly influenced by her supervisor Ms. Caroline Perry who in the 1970's became the Deputy Commissioner of this evolving and growing department. Just a quick side note, back in the 50's state cars were standard shift, unfortunately Ellen was not told that she would be driving a standard shift car to visit clients in their homes – and she rarely drove previously and certainly never a standard. She was a product of her times using bus transportation from her Canner Street, New Haven home. So off she went from Howe Street in New Haven on a warm summer day and grinded the column gear shift on the way to the intersection of Church and Chapel Streets (the busiest intersection in the city) where the car stalled and would not restart, she ran into the drug store to call her dad Ray – the traffic was snarled for about 15 minutes with everyone yelling and beeping, once her dad Ray and his friend New Haven Police Officer Dick Smith got to the scene, the problem was solved. Needless to say, Ellen's dad worked with her on the standard shift over the next few days and she figured it out as she always did!
Ellen was the loving and devoted wife of the late Garwood (Gary) Wilson, Ellen and Gary met in 1953 at Owenego Beach Club in Branford. The rest is history, life-long Wallingford residents, married for 59 wonderful years (1956-2016). Ellen's early married life was spent with her husband honoring his Air Force Service Commitment (1956-1959). She left her first job as a State of Connecticut social worker in New Haven in September 1956. Ellen and her Lt. Air Force husband toured the southwest and west coast over the next three years living in Houston, TX; Sacramento, CA; and Abilene, TX where first son John was born. In each location Ellen hit the ground running setting up their apartments and finding jobs, in Houston she worked at Rice University (Admissions Office), in Sacramento she worked at Sears & Roebuck (Finance Office) and in Abilene she worked at Dillard's Dept. Store again in the Finance Office.
Ellen was a devoted mother to her three children, John Phillips Wilson of Wallingford, the late (d. 2024) Susan Ellen (Wilson) Losi of Wallingford and Thomas Mills Wilson of Cromwell. Ellen's life with her children was one of love and joy. She was ever-present for her children serving as a room mother, PTA member and officer, as well as serving on numerous school committees. Ellen also spent time serving the community as a member of the Wallingford Junior Woman's Club serving as local chapter president in 1965 and as state wide Treasurer from 1967-1970. She volunteered on many fundraising initiatives as a Woman's Club member, projects such as the March of Dimes, UNICEF and Project Hope (the hospital ship that served third world countries) in which Ellen and her children were able to tour while docked in New York harbor in the summer of 1972 – a big day for the Wilson kids. In between these commitments she made sure her children were involved in activities including dance classes, school events and sports.
After raising her children to school age, Ellen went to work as an Enrichment (Special Education) Program Teacher for the Wallingford Public School System (1971-1975). She loved serving Wallingford's school children at the elementary, middle and high school grade levels. She moved from teaching back to social services in 1976. Ellen reconnected with her first supervisor Caroline Perry, Deputy Commissioner of the newly formed Department of Social Services -- so the path was paved for Ellen's return to social work.
Ellen's social work position involved making many home visits to client families throughout the New Haven region. She loved serving people and went the extra mile for everyone she met. She served on a number of work-related agency boards and committees. In the 80's and into the 90's she served on The Coordinating Committee for Children in Crisis, The New Haven Housing Authority Committee, and the New Haven Interfaith Council of Churches Prevent Homeless Initiative. These roles helped establish programs for children - specifically after-school initiatives when parents were busy at work while children were being dismissed from school; helped establish a communications network and committee for landlords and tenants to work out housing and rental issues; and supported a faith-based initiate to bring families to the faith of their choice and provide struggling families with food, clothing, emergency shelter and counseling.
In the late 90's, Ellen was promoted to New Haven Regional Field Operations Manager position. This was a daunting position, responsible for multiple social service programs involving the deployment of hundreds of employees throughout the New Haven region. Ellen had a 25-year career in state service (1976-2001) and she handled her positions with determination and professionalism. Even when she fell over a speed bump in the parking garage at the Hartford Office and had to have surgery with pins placed in her shattered wrist, she was back to work in three days!
Yet, Ellen's life was all about family especially as the years began to move faster and faster. In her retirement she spent time with her grandchildren while still being there for her husband Gary. Daughter Sue and husband Rick had three children: the Losi kids loved their Nana and she cherished them, always present in their lives: son Christopher Phillips born in 1990, daughter Alexandra Elizabeth born in 1993, and son Kyle Wilson born in 1996. She worked with the grandkids on their studies and helped them with rides to many school and sports activities.
While Ellen's son Tom's children with his late wife (d. 2022) Mariann Ward Wilson lived in Middletown. The couple had three children who Ellen adored: son Thomas John born in 1994, son Andrew Clayton born in 1997 and daughter Emily Marie born in 2000. Ellen could be seen attending the kids school activities at various Middletown public schools and then at Xavier High School for TJ and Andrew and the Charter School for Performance & the Arts in Hartford for Emily.
Eventually, Ellen and Gary left their Bayberry Drive home in 2013, having been the longest residing family in the neighborhood – 50 years (1963-2013) quite the distinction. Yet, it was time to downsize. Daughter Sue and husband Rick stepped up in a big way taking Nana and Grandpa into their home. Rick made all the physical room arrangements seem "seamless" at their east-side Wallingford home – Rick was more than happy to share his home for visits and said, "visit whenever you want, I love your Mom, she is a second-mother to me since my Mom passed." As time marched on and Ellen reached her late 80's she had to deal with serious health issues. Her heart, circulation and memory loss were all of concern. It was difficult but she fought on. In the past few years she experienced some good, some bad, and some great days with her health. The great days coincided with the chance to visit her great-grandchildren.
Granddaughter Ally (Losi) Canniff and her husband Tim Canniff would always be ready to host Nana. Their daughter Collins Elizabeth who was born two years to the day before Ellen's passing had a permanent spot on Nana's lap. This is God at work, there can be no mistake! Last May 2025, Ally and Tim were blessed with twin boys, Brady and Charlie. Nana's smile said it all, when she met the boys and held them tight at each visit. Ellen could not stop talking about them and told everyone in Assisted Living who would listen! In addition, to these great-grandkids, grandson Chris and his wife Beatrix welcomed a son, Remington Richard to the family in October of 2024. Another blessing for Nana who got to greet this new baby boy and enjoy him at the 2024 family Christmas gathering. Tom's son Andrew and spouse Brie had a baby boy Ezra born in April of 2025. This past summer the couple came to CT from their North Carolina home to visit Nana she was thrilled.
The final important family event for Ellen occurred this past September when grandson Kyle Losi married Caitlin Ziemba. Ellen demanded that she was going to this wedding, even though she had a tough week health wise. She rallied as John's wife Karen (thank you – for all you did for Ellen) and Tom's wife Caron (thank you for visiting and advocating for Ellen once or twice a day over the past year) prepared Ellen for the big day.
Ellen served her Catholic parish with distinction at the Church of the Resurrection, Wallingford. She was a religious education teacher, confirmation class coordinator, social ministry volunteer and parish trustee for nearly fifty years. Her faith was a very important aspect of her life not only with family but as she worked with families through the community.
Ellen is survived and pre-deceased by a number of family members: late brother-in-law Robert C. Happy Sr.; late brother-in-law Russell M. Wilson, Jr.; late sister-in-law Jean H. Wilson; her nieces and nephews: Margaret Happy Gallagher and her late husband Michael Gallagher; Robert C. Happy, Jr. and his late wife Lynn Wenstrom-Happy; Raymond P. Happy and his wife Carolyn; Frederic Happy and his wife Kate; Stephen Wilson and wife Kathy; Peter Wilson; the late Christie Wilson-Krusz; and Andrew Wilson. In addition, the family wants to thank members of the Coffey and Losi families living and deceased for their wonderful love and support of Ellen over the years.
Ellen also had a loving relationship with (John's wife) Karen's children: daughter Melissa, husband Kirk Smith and children Dean, Lyla and Hailey; daughter Kathryn (Katie) husband Dennis Ferrera and children Vin, Felicia, Luca and Mila. Ellen loved to be driven to Kate's driveway to see all of the kids and enjoyed her past visits with Luca, Mila, Felicia and Vin when the kids swam at Rick and Sue's pool.
We want to thank the wonderful staff at "The Grove" in the Pineview Building of Covenant Living – thanks to Kim, Erica, Fred, Ivette, Carmen, Loretta, Deb and Sylvia and those whose names we have forgotten. Our family wants to thank and acknowledge the wonderful care that our cousin Dr. Millicent (Cashman) Malcolm, O.D. provided Ellen over the last year. She was a gift from God. The final weeks for Ellen were difficult and heartbreaking for our family. Once Ellen was identified for hospice care the Franciscan Home and Hospice Program stepped up quickly to serve Ellen and family. A special thanks to Sister Catherine Mary, Donna Lee, Troy, Dora and any staff we may have forgotten. Ellen went peaceful on Saturday afternoon and we are most grateful to the Rev. Richard Cudmore of Covenant Living for his commitment to Ellen over the nearly one year she was a resident.
Ellen's family will receive relatives and friends in the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., Wallingford, CT on Thursday, December 18, 2025 from 9 AM – 10:30 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the viewing at 11 AM to be celebrated by the parish of St. Benedict of Nursia, at the Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, CT. Interment will follow the Mass at St. John Catholic Cemetery, 400 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT.
Donations in Ellen's name may be made to: Franciscan Home Care and Hospice, 267 Finch Street, Meriden, CT 06451. Archbishop's Annual Appeal, 467 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002 The Sister's Project, P.O. Box 1643, Wallingford, CT 06492 Thank you!
May Ellen and all faithful departed rest in the loving hands of Our Lord.