Mrs. Elsie C. Spellman

ATTELBORO – Elsie C. “Nana” (Walsh) Spellman, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on April 28, 2017, after a period of declining health. She was the loving wife of the late John E. (Jack) Spellman to whom she was married on August 20, 1947.

Born on March 9, 1926 in Fall River, MA, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Martha (Anderson) Walsh.

Moving to Attleboro in 1957, Elsie took a job at Sturdy Memorial Hospital as their early morning “coffee lady”. She later served as a nurses’ aid on the maternity ward at Study Memorial Hospital. Elsie was a housekeeper at St. John the Evangelist Rectory for several years and always had an open door to her own home for all the priests. She concluded her working years at the former L.G. Balfour Co., retiring in 1988.

Elsie was very active with St. John’s Catholic Women’s Guild (later known as the Women of Spirit). For many years, she helped plan and organize the Annual Bishop Ball and collected donations of food, clothing and Christmas gifts for the battered women’s shelter. She was a volunteer at the St. Joseph Food Pantry and was on the St. John’s consolation committee. Elsie was awarded the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River while a parishioner of St. John’s Evangelist Church on November 8, 2007.

She was a volunteer for the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. Elsie enjoyed sewing (prom dresses and wedding dresses and Easter outfits) and knitting (she had knit over 50 Irish knits). She loved to travel with her husband having visited both Ireland and Italy. Elsie enjoyed golfing and was a member of Hillside Country Club.

She is survived by her beloved children, Sharon L. Spellman, Cornelius E. (Neil) Spellman and his wife Denise, J. Scott Spellman and his wife Sally, Kate Jackson and her husband Keith, Jane A. Burt, Elizabeth R. (Betsy) Houle and her husband Bob, and her “adopted” daughter, Jeanne; 18 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild due to arrive in November.

She was the mother of the late K. Cheryl Spellman, and sister of the late Helen Chelowa, Rheta Greenough, Edward, Raymond, Francis, Joseph, Thomas and Frederic Walsh.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, May 2, from 4-8 p.m., in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro.

A funeral will be conducted on Wednesday, May 3, at 9 a.m., from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m., in St. John the Evangelist Church, 133 North Main St., Attleboro. Burial will follow in North Purchase Cemetery, Attleboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph Food Pantry, 71 Linden Street in Attleboro, MA, 02703.