Ellen Griffiths

Ellen J. (Kirk) Griffiths, age 93, well-known mezzo soprano, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010 in Adams House in Fall River. She was the wife of the late Stanwood Durfee Griffiths, a well-known lead tenor in this area prior to his death in 1971.

Born in North Chelmsford, a daughter of the late Thomas M. and Elizabeth (White) Kirk, she resided in the Chelmsford area during her early life, lived in Providence for eleven years before moving to Fall River in 1947.

A graduate of Chelmsford High School, Class of 1935, she worked for a short time in the Lowell area before becoming Office Manager and Secretary to the Executive Director of the Family Service Association in Providence. Mrs. Griffiths worked for the former Al Davis Men’s Store in Fall River for several years and then became Secretary for the Executive Director of the Community Development Recreation Project in Fall River for 24 years retiring in 1996.

An active member of the First Congregational Church in Fall River, she was a Senior Deacon and a member of its board. Beginning her music career at age 15, she studied voice extensively under the late William Heller at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Lowell and Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, RI. She also studied under the late James Pickering of Providence and New York and the late Dr. Thompson Stone who headed the music department of Tufts University.

Among her numerous professional affiliations were Grace Episcopal Church of Providence where she sang for three years and worked in the church office for seven years. She was the soloist at the Barrington Congregational Church for three years, and was in the Quartets at Trinity Methodist and the Mathewson St. Methodist Churches in Providence for several years. She also sang in the Quartet at Temple Beth El in Providence for 35years. Joining the First Congregational Church in Fall River Quartet in 1947, for many years she continued as a member of its volunteer choir since 1947. She also sang in various choruses and for private engagements throughout her career.

She was a longtime Incorporator and member of the Board of Trustees of the Home for Aged People in Fall River and a member of the Women’s Club of Fall River, the Fall River Garden Club and the Fall River Historical Society.

She is survived by two nephews Thomas A. Kirk and his wife Gloria of Tyngsborough and Arthur S. Kirk and his wife Ann of Chelmsford, one great nephew David A. Kirk of Chelmsford as well as her sister- in -law Beulah Kirk of Chelmsford. She was mother of the late James K. Griffiths and sister of the late Martha A. McEnnis and Arthur P. Kirk.

Her Service of Thanksgiving and Tribute will be held on Monday, January 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Adams House 1168 Highland Ave. Fall River. Snow date will be Tuesday, January 4 2011. Relatives and friends invited. Contributions in her honor may be made to the Adams House 1168 Highland Ave. Fall River, MA 02720. Burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at CHERRY PLACE.