Ellen Mead Dougherty

Ellen Mead Dougherty passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 5, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. Ellen is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years, Joseph N. Dougherty of Montvale NJ, her son John and daughter in-law Elizabeth Dougherty of Frenchtown NJ, her son Edward Dougherty and his partner Michael Olson of New York City and her daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) Silvestri of Norfolk MA. Ellen was blessed with four wonderful grandchildren. Robert Dougherty of Madison WI, Mikaela Dougherty of Frenchtown NJ, Catherine Silvestri and Jackson Silvestri of Norfolk MA. Ellen is predeceased by her parents Daniel L and Mary D Mead of Grand Rapids Michigan, her sister Mary A. Mead and her brother Daniel E. Mead of Grand Rapids MI and her sister Margaret J. Mead of Oakland California. She is survived by her brother Michael Mead and his wife Katherine of Birmingham MI, and her sister in-law, Joan Mead of Grand Rapids MI. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. Ellen was a 1951 graduate of Marywood Academy and 1955 graduate of Barat College, Lake Forest IL where she majored in English and early childhood education. Ellen was a qualified Montessori teacher and taught kindergarten in Newark NJ. Ellen also had a successful twenty-five year career as the CFO of Performance Learning Systems of Emerson NJ. Ellen was a much loved, admired and cherished member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge NJ for over 47 years. At OLM she was the first female lector, one of the first Eucharistic ministers, a founding member of the Lazarus Ministry and a member of the Mothers Prayer Group to name but a few. Ellen was a founding board member of the not-for-profit, Pascack Mental Health Center and many other civic endeavors. Along with her husband and children, Ellen travelled the world from England, France, Turkey and Greece to Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia. The poise and grace with which Ellen fought a nine year battle with cancer is a testament to her character and faith as well as the dedicated work of Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Ellen’s deep Catholic Faith and indomitable spirit will live on in the hearts of her family, friends and indeed all those whom she touched. The Dougherty family will host visitation on Thursday November 12, 2015 from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, New Jersey. A funeral Mass celebrating Ellen’s life will be at 10 am on Friday, November 13, 2015 at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Park Ridge, NJ. If you would like to memorialize Ellen’s life with a donation, her preferred charities are the Pascack Mental Health Center, Dr. Reidy-Lagunes’ research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and The North American NeuroEndocrine Tumor Society.