Ellen F. DiLorenzo (Curtin, Marsella) transitioned peacefully on Friday, March 25 ^th in the care of the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center staff, in Providence, RI. She was pre-deceased by her husband of over twenty-five years, Richard P. DiLorenzo; and her parents Jeremiah "Eddie" Curtin and Louise (Manion) Curtin. She leaves her two children, Jennifer L. Marsella of Warwick, RI, formerly of Scottsdale, AZ; and Shane R. DiLorenzo of Fall River, MA; her brothers, John and William Curtin; niece Kayla and nephew Derek Curtin; great nieces Raelyn and Laney Curtin; dearest cousins and oldest friends, and new-found Laurelwood community and neighbors.

Ellen was born on the Fourth of July, 1950, in Central Falls, and raised in Pawtucket, RI. She graduated from Pawtucket West in 1968 and started at New England Telephone in 1969 as an operator. Ellen subsequently had a long and storied career through the five company names and decades of organizational changes; was an active member of the local IBEW, formed valuable life-long friendships, and retired with 41 years vested at Verizon.

In the 1970's, Ellen married her first husband, John, and they welcomed their only child, Jennifer. Through the late 1980s, Ellen continued to participate in union activities, crafted to relax, was a bit of a gym rat, and attended the Annette Donohue Modeling School – oh, those cheekbones!

Ellen and Richard met during this time while both working at New England Telephone. Their dates included plow rides during the winter, dinner and dancing out with friends, sharing time with their respective families, and holding hands while riding around in Ellen's Trans Am.

By the early 1990s, Richard and Ellen had married. They built their home from the ground up in Western Cranston, RI, where they hosted family reunions, parties, and celebrations – which many attendees still share fond memories of. They welcomed and fostered a number of younger children, and eventually adopted their son, Shane, in 1997. Ellen continued to be an outspoken advocate of vital services for foster children.

Through the 2000s, Ellen enjoyed their central Maine camp: spending time with friends and family around a fire pit, having fun on their ATVs & rangers, riding snowmobiles, and of course, shopping the local stores for deals and décor.

The 2014 sudden death of her adoring husband Richard, and subsequent rare peritoneal cancer diagnosis in 2017, showed the tenacious determination and perseverance of Ellen's spirit. After almost two years of hospital stays, surgical complications, and chemotherapy, Ellen was able to move into her new condominium at Laurelwood in North Smithfield in 2019. It had been a dream of Ellen and Rick's to be able to do so when they both had retired, allowing her to be closer to her cousins, and easier access to hop on the highways and head to Maine.

Over these most current years, Ellen enjoyed participating in the Laurelwood community and making a host of new friends. She loved spending time with her cousins (troublemakers, the whole lot of them) decorating her new home, needlepointing, reading Danielle Steel novels, lunching and shopping with friends, and watching the New England Patriots with Shane. Although there have been many complications medically and Ellen experienced quite a bit of pain and frustration, she did so with her daughter Jennifer by her side; and together, they rode that rollercoaster with the support of Shane, friends, and family. They shared many laughs, some tears, and developed a caring and close relationship which they lovingly leaned into.

Ellen has been described as "tough yet fair; personality plus; tough cookie; having stood up for people who couldn't stand up for themselves, or for the right thing; protective; sassy, stubborn, and sharp; fierce." We call her our "effing ray of sunshine; firecracker," and most importantly, "Mom."

The DiLorenzo/Marsella family extend supreme gratitude and appreciation to all of Ellen's caregivers, CNAs, doctors and nurses at Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan Cancer Institute, Miriam Hospital and HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Services and Center.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Mass of Christian Burial, on Saturday April 2nd, at 10:30AM in St. John The Evangelist, 63 Church Street, Slatersville. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston.

Visiting hours are on Friday, April 1st 4:30-7:30PM, in the O'Neill Funeral Home, 3102 Mendon Road, Cumberland.

We invite you to please celebrate our "firecracker" Ellen, and request you wear a little pink (or a lot!) in honor of her. "I like anything pink!"

Face masks are optional.