Ellen W. Pandiscia

Ellen Hughes (Welsh) Pandiscia, 89, beloved wife of the late Daniel J. Pandiscia Sr. died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, October 26, 2023. Ellen was born on April 20, 1934, in Pittsfield, MA, to the late William C. and Helen A. (Hughes) Welsh. In the late 1930’s, the family moved to East Hartford, CT for her father’s employment at Pratt and Whitney. Ellen remained in East Hartford for most of her life yet stayed close with her Massachusetts relatives spending her childhood summers with her grandparents, aunts, and cousins in Pittsfield and Lenox. Ellen grew up in East Hartford and attended St. Mary’s School and was a proud graduate of East Hartford High School class of 1952 and graduated in 1954 from Colby-Sawyer Junior College in New London, N.H. She had a lifelong love of learning and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from UCONN in 1997.

Ellen was a dedicated employee of the East Hartford Board of Education for twenty-seven years. She was a communicant of St. James’s Church in Manchester. Throughout most of her life her parish home was in East Hartford at St. Mary’s and St. Rose Church. She was active in numerous organizations including the East Hartford Women’s Club and the Ladies Guild of St. Mary’s Church. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and was an active member of the Irish American Home Society in Glastonbury.

Ellen loved life, she was an avid reader, enjoyed movies, museums, libraries, watching UCONN athletics, and especially loved watching March Madness. She was a lifelong baseball fan and enjoyed her annual pilgrimage with her sister Sheila to the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. She had a memorable 65th birthday when the entire family joined her on a chartered bus to watch the New York Yankees. She loved travel with her family and friends to Ireland and Italy, family summer vacations to Cornfield Point in Old Saybrook, and annual Lobsterfests in New Hampshire.

Ellen’s greatest passion of all was writing letters DAILY to her beloved large extended family. She took great care and genuine interest in each person she corresponded with. She poured her enduring love, wit, and support into each and every note, card, and letter. These loved filled special treasures will be cherished forever by those who loved Ellen. Ellen married the love of her life, Daniel J. “Babe” Pandiscia in 1961, having twenty-eight blessed years together until Daniel’s sudden passing in 1990. Along with her beloved husband Daniel and parents William and Helen, Ellen was predeceased by her sister and lifelong friend Sheila Tuller and her husband Stanley S. Tuller, several members of the Pandiscia family, and her cherished nephew and godson Richard Tuller, and nephews Marty Hastings and John Hickey.

Ellen’s legacy will be carried on by her children Daniel J. Pandiscia Jr., Carol Pandiscia, Joan and husband Jamie Ganley, and Gregory Pandiscia. Ellen loved being grandmother to her treasured grandson, Michael Pandiscia.

Left to cherish the memory of Ellen, who was affectionally called Oddie, are her nieces and nephews in the Tuller family, Cheri Tuller, John and Sandi Tuller, Ellen Hastings, Maureen and Dino Peruccio, Thomas and Lorraine Tuller, Anne and Mitchell Dlubac, Carolyn and Timothy O’Connor, Stephen Tuller. Ellen truly was the Greatest Great Aunt to Christine and Mike Silva, Courtney Stone and Dana Aiken, Bryan Tuller, Edsel and Mary Rodriquez, Sean and Caitlin Hastings, Kevin Hastings, Kara, Caitlin, and Carly Peruccio, Bethany and Kelsey Tuller, Shauna and Connor LaFlamme, Erin and Tyler Brechbiel, Patrick and Sarah O’Connor, Michaela and Tim Kneuer, and Christopher O’Connor. In the Hickey family, Ellen leaves Kathleen Hickey, Megan and Josh MacDonald, Karen and Brian Lafo, and several members of the Pandiscia family.

Ellen’s love extended to her youngest family members, Olivia, Alex, Brody, Mia, Julian, Faith, Edsel, Elrik, Clara, Ronan, Lucy, Jack, Maggie, Ella, and Madeline. Ellen also leaves behind many cherished friends and neighbors.

Ellen was a kindhearted woman whose greatest legacy was her unconditional love of others which she shared with her daily letters and notes. To honor her please send a written letter or card to someone you love.

Funeral and burial services will be private at the request of the family. There are no calling hours. A remembrance mass and celebration of life will be held at a later future date.

The D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel 30 Carter Street East Hartford has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.