Our beloved Ellen Marie O'Brien, 56, passed away Friday evening, December 12th at 9:30pm of a severe heart attack at Torrance Memorial. Born in Maple Park, IL to Virgil and Mary Ellen Grzywa on October 15th, Ellen had the ability to bring a smile to everyone's face. Her compassion for people brought her to the hospice program at Torrance Memorial where later on she became the Head Hospice Coordinator; a job she truly loved! She was one of the coordinators for the yearly "Light up a life" and "Motherless Daughters" celebrations, which so many people from the South Bay and surrounding areas looked forward to. She was a woman with an amazing sense of humor, always smiling, and always looking at the very best in people. She is survived by her husband Jim, daughters Heather and Katherine, and son Jacob.
Services will be held on Wednesday, December 17th at Rice Mortuary, in Torrance from 5-9pm, with a Rosary service at 7pm. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 20th in Maple Park, Illinois where she will be buried in the family cemetery.
