Ellen T. Mason

She was born in Keene, NH on January 10, 1936, the daughter of George F. and Ruth (Carroll) Taaffe. A lifelong resident of Keene, she was a 1954 graduate of Keene High School.

Her family was her life, and Mrs. Mason took great pride in creating a nurturing environment for her husband and children, and always being available to participate by helping in her children’s school activities, including as a member of the Franklin Elementary School Parent Teacher Association.

She was a member and volunteer in the office of the Keene Senior Center; a member of the Church Women United Group; and a member of the Caregivers Support Group. She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Bernard Church of Keene.

She enjoyed art and music, and she especially enjoyed spending time at Sand Pond and Hampton Beach with her family.

She is survived by her children, Sarah T. Woodward and her husband, Bruce, of Charlotte, NC, Timothy T. Mason and his girlfriend, Tania McStravick, of Roxbury, NH, Patrick T. Mason of Brooklyn, NY, Carl T. Mason and his wife, Marie, of Keene; seven grandchildren, Christopher Woodward and his fiancé, Michele St. Hilaire, Michelle Palasek and her husband, Matthew, Carolyn Sartori and her husband, Peter, Katherine Kazukynas and her husband, Thomas, Derek Mason, Emily Mason, Alison Mason; seven great-grandchildren, Rocco Sartori, Natalia Sartori, Gabriel Ellis, Alexis Mason, Zofia Palasek, Samuel Palasek, Elianna Kazukynas; a brother, Roy Carroll and his wife, Olive, of Keene; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She is also survived by her longtime friends, Kenney and JoAnn Maynard of Surry, NH. She was predeceased by the love of her life since the age of 15, Robert A. Mason, to whom she was married for 55 years before his death on December 4, 2011; a brother, Philip G. Taaffe, and two sisters, Ann Ladam and Dorothy Kazanas.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 11:00AM in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:30AM at the Foley Funeral Home (www.foleyfuneralhome.com), 49 Court Street, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in Mrs. Mason’s memory to St. Vincent dePaul Society, c\o Parish of the Holy Spirit, 161 Main Street, Keene, NH 03431.