Mary Ellen Colburn

Mary Ellen (O’Neill) Colburn, 79, passed away on Saturday April 23, 2016 in the comfort of the home she shared with her loving family for 50 years. She was born on December 20, 1936 in Groveland, MA, the daughter of the late Sydney and Marjorie O’Neill. She graduated from Haverhill High and attended Salem State Teaching College for two years before moving to Heidelberg, Germany. Mary Ellen was the devoted wife of the late Frank Colburn with whom she shared 53 years of marriage. Mary Ellen’s greatest joy was her large spirited family - mother of 8, grandmother of 19 and great-grandmother of 3. Her passions included traveling with friends and family, baking for all occasions and lending a helping hand to all in need. Never one to pass up a clearance table at a department store, Mary Ellen knew how to stretch a dollar - she could make one can of tuna fish feed her entire family. Mary Ellen is survived by 5 daughters and 3 sons. Lynn and Richard Gendron of Kissimmee, FL; Michael Colburn of Tewksbury, MA; Susan and Michael LaRocque of Nashua; Stephen Colburn and his companions Maureen and Alida of Hudson; Jane and Daniel Clarke of Hudson; Kevin and Kristine Colburn of Hudson; Brenda Wygant of Hudson; Donna and Rusty Smith of Nashua. Her 19 grandchildren include Jonathan, his wife Stephanie and Amie Gendron, fiancé Bill; Donny and Bradley Nelson and Randy Colburn; Andrea, James, Michelle, fiancé Tyler, and Christine LaRocque; Daniel Clarke Jr and Kayla Peach; Alizah, Harper May, and Sidney Colburn; Colby and Rileigh Wygant; Braedon, Cohen, and Meredith Smith. And if you are still following this, she adored her three great-grandchildren, Madilyn and Raegan Gendron; and Kadence Peach. Also survived by siblings Patricia Dewhirst, Linda Campbell and her husband Ken, and Patricia (Colburn) Howes and her husband Arthur and Robert Colburn and his wife Janet. Special thanks to Alvirne Adult Day Care, Home Health and Hospice, and Dawn Perry; all of whom cared for Mary Ellen. Visiting Hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-8pm in the DUMONT-SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME, 50 Ferry St., Hudson. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated the following morning beginning at 10am in St. Kathryn's Church, 4 Dracut Rd., Hudson. All To Meet At Church. Burial will take place in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Hudson. In lieu of flowers, Mary Ellen requests donations be made in her memory to the following organizations – Gateways Adult Day at 144 Canal Street, Nashua, NH 03046 or Home Health and Hospice Care at 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054.

Mary Ellen Colburn

December 20, 1936 - April 23, 2016