Claire Ells
Dedicated her life to husband, family and home
Claire L. Ells, a Chelsea resident, died on May 24 following a brief illness. She had spent the previous two months at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home. She was 86 years old.
A Revere native, she was one of six children born to John and Mary (McAvinue) Costello, both deceased. She attended Revere High School and subsequently worked in Boston at Kennedy’s Men Store before moving to Chelsea, where she was employed by Forbes lithograph and Travco Industries.
In April of 1952, she wed Harry M. Ells and made Chelsea her home for 64 years thereafter. Her devotion centered on her husband, family and home. She was an avid bingo player and reader who enjoyed staying mentally active through crossword puzzles and word games.
She was predeceased by her parents and by siblings Dorothy Doherty, John Costello and Edward Costello. Her surviving spouse of 64 years is Harry M. Ells, Jr. of Chelsea. She leaves behind four children: Harry M. Ells and his wife Patricia of Everett, Susan Silvia and her husband Michael of Reading, Barbara Camoscio and her husband Anthony of Tewksbury, and Edward Ells and his companion Eileen Gurska of Chelsea. Her siblings Helen Condelli of Medford and Virginia Legner of Westwood also survive her. She was grandmother to Jillian Ells, Jonathan and Tiffany Ells, Daniel Silvia and his fiancée Paula Goguen, Mary Silvia, Michael and Kathy Camoscio and David Camoscio, and great-grandmother to Elizabeth Ells and Molly Camoscio.
The Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea, handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Arthritis Foundation, 29 Crafts St., Ste. 450, Newton MA, 02458.