Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend and All-Around Beautiful Person
Ellen C. Lewin, 77, who lived a wonderful lifetime putting others before herself, made a graceful exit from this world on March 5, 2024. She died peacefully at home after a valiant, inspiring but ultimately insurmountable encounter with leukemia. Surrounded by music, love, and family, Ellen left us with a pleasant smile on her face and a beautiful sense of calm in her heart. Even at the end, she was able to put everyone around her at ease.
Ellen grew up in Milton, MA, the daughter of Sylvia Nathan and Dr. Jerome Nathan, from whom she inherited a love of people and music. Although she was a shy little kid, her big, beautiful voice and bright blue eyes lifted people’s spirits from a very young age. After winning the televised regional talent show Community Auditions in 1955 at the age of eight, Ellen brought her singing talents to temple choirs, family hootenannies and volunteer performances at assisted living facilities throughout Massachusetts. Her ability to harmonize on a moment’s notice and uplift people’s spirits under any circumstances have became legendary in certain circles. When not filling the world with music, Ellen enjoyed swimming, reading, playing golf, spending time at the lake house in Pembroke, MA and following her beloved New England sports teams with a passion rivaled only by the teams themselves.
Ellen loved her life. Mostly she loved the people in it. She loved being a confidant source of loving support for her husband. She loved raising her sons, participating in their shenanigans and encouraging them in everything they aspired to do. She loved caring for her parents and inlaws. She loved loving her amazing granddaughters. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends, whether in Massachusetts, Texas, California, Colorado or Florida, where she most recently found her happy place at the beach in Naples.
Ellen is survived by her best friend and loving husband of 56 years, Leonard; her devoted sons, James and Daniel; her pal and daughter-in-law, Malia; her perfect granddaughters, Kahea and Naia; her adoring brothers, Richard and John; and a massive extended family of relatives, neighbors, old friends and new friends who will love, admire and miss her for many years to come.
A Celebration of Life service for Ellen will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 11:00 am, at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., West Newton, MA. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva will be at Leonard and Ellen’s home in Newton following interment.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations, in memory of Ellen Lewin, to support cancer research and patient care at DanaFarber Cancer Institute. Such gifts may be made via dana-farber.org/gift or at the following address, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.
Additionally, so that others may be blessed with the precious gift of time which Ellen enjoyed so deeply these past few years, her family encourages anyone and everyone reading this to please consider joining the bone marrow registry at https://bethematch.org