Ellen B. (Birge) Stadtmueller

Ellen Birge Stadtmueller, age 79, beloved wife of 57 years to John Stadtmueller, passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2017 with her family beside her.  In addition to her husband, she also leaves behind her five devoted children and their spouses and 11 grandchildren:  Marie and Timothy Aspinwall and their children Kate and Patrick; Katherine and William Pancak and their children Annie and Jack; Anne and Dan Mahoney and their children Danny and Conor; Mark and Jo Ann Stadtmueller and their children Victoria, Nicholas and Ian; and Jane and Ray Davis and their children Elizabeth and Sarah.   Ellen was born in 1937 and was a lifelong resident of Stratford. She was the daughter of the late Raymond and Marie Birge and the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Laurelton Hall Academy in 1955 and Good Counsel College in 1959. The Birge family are long time parishioners of St. James Church where Ellen was baptised, confirmed and married.  Ellen - fondly known by her siblings and grandchildren as “Roonie” - loved life and was known for her kind, caring and generous spirit, positive outlook, and devotion to family and friends. She loved animals and hosted a menagerie throughout her life including raising two puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She had a green thumb and cheerfully tended to her indoor plants and outdoor gardens. She was an artist, enjoying painting, drawing and crafts of all kinds. She had a great sense of humor, a curious mind, and was an advocate for what she believed was right. She enjoyed vacations with family and friends and had a special place in her heart for Ascutney Mountain, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the Housatonic Boat Club. She graced our lives for almost eighty years and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.   Ellen is survived by her sisters Marie Minahan, Nancy Goodrich and her husband Robert, and Jane Greenwood and her husband Richard, and her brother James Birge and his wife Jane. Ellen was predeceased by her brother Monsignor George Birge, her brother Robert Birge and his wife Barbara, and her brother-in-law William Minahan. Ellen is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. James Church, 2070 Main Street, Stratford where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.  Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Galello-Luchansky Funeral Home, 2220 Main Street, Stratford on Friday, June 30, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 PM for visitation. To those who so desire, contributions can be made in Ellen’s memory to St. James Church or a charity of your choice. 

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