Ellen F. Watson

Ellen F. Watson of Hatboro PA, formerly of Carmel, Indiana, passed away January 4, 2025. She was 81 years old. Ellen was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Tom, in June of 2024. She is greatly missed and will be remembered for her unwavering faith, wonderful wit, feisty spirit and lifelong dedication to her family and friends. Ellen was born and raised in Mendham, New Jersey on her treasured Corey Lane and was the daughter of the late Elwood and Frances Fake. She graduated from West Morris Regional High School and attended Douglass College at Rutgers University where she met Tom at a co-ed softball game Junior year. Tom and Ellen began their 59 years together on June 19, 1965 shortly after graduating.

Ellen was a devoted wife and mother as the newly minted Watson family moved around Ohio and New Jersey with Tom’s career. They had four daughters and four homes between 1967 and 1977. The Watsons finally settled in a wonderful home on 5 acres on the outskirts of Carmel, which they meticulously cared for while raising their girls and spent 46 years together there before coming to PA. Lifelong memories were made by family and friends at the Watson homestead over those four and a half decades.

Ellen’s Catholic faith was a cornerstone and source of great strength in her life and for those around her. She lived out that faith on her own daily and at Our Lady of Mount Carmel where she also participated in the choir, spiritual retreats, Adoration, and taught CCD over her 46 years in the parish; she was grateful to have found a new spiritual home at St. John Bosco in PA. Ellen shared her faith with all of her friends and family and will be remembered for it. 

Many families in the Carmel area will recall Ellen as a youth soccer coach, Brownies and Girl Scout Leader, and advocate for women’s sports. She once coached her U16 girls soccer team to an Indiana State Championship! After retiring from coaching, she enjoyed being the #1 fan on the sidelines and in the stands for her daughters and their teammates. As the years rolled on, she loved hearing about her grandkids’ sports and activities and was even able to attend some games despite living so far away. Grandma, as she was known, loved to spend time with her daughters, sons-in-law, and grandkids and spoil them with favorite meals whether that was at her home, at Lake Erie, or in PA. She loved to sing and dance to “the oldies” with the grandkids when they were little, and play a silly made-up-on-the-spot game which produced lots of giggles.  As the grands got older, she enjoyed playing cards with them, and not losing at those card games very often! She was a dearly loved Mom and Grandma.  

Ellen loved playing cards with her Bridge groups as well, which were a valued part of her and Tom’s social life; she met dear friends through Bridge and thought of them often. Ellen was well known for her sense of humor, memorable laugh, and always having a little joke to share. She loved to catch up with family and friends on the trips to Lake Erie and was always up for a chat, snacks or cards on a patio, hanging on the beach, or playing in the water with the grandkids.  She will be missed by so many.  

Ellen enjoyed a 20 year career with Sears at Castleton Mall in the electronics and appliances department. Her top notch customer service and ability to relate to and earn her customers’ trust brought her many sales, repeat customers, and accolades. She never met a stranger and made friends easily while working at Sears. During this time, Ellen discovered golf and her knack for it; she and Tom were members of Twin Lakes Golf Club and could often be found at Twin Lakes in their spare time playing rounds with friends. Ellen was a two-time Club Champion and has two holes-in-one to her name. She played in Championship rounds into her 60s and in her very last one, her opponent was a woman she had coached in youth soccer back in the day!    

Ellen was an excellent gardener and planned her gardens out so she always had something in bloom. Many perennial roots from those beautiful gardens will continue to bloom at the homes of family and friends in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Her spirit endures through her shared faith, her daughters and grandchildren, and those roots. There is comfort knowing that Ellen and Tom are reunited in everlasting joy in Heaven and undoubtedly dancing their jitterbug to “Kansas City”.   

Ellen is survived by her four daughters, Deborah Watson of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, Katherine Arnow and her husband Ted of North Wales, Cynthia Watson of Columbus, Ohio, Patricia Heckler and her husband Chris of Lansdale, her cherished grandchildren Alex, Holly, Stephen and Daniel, her sisters Guyanne Renigar, Barbara Shanley and her brother George (Sandy) Fake, her brother-in-law Fred Hlavatch as well as her sisters-in-law Marilyn Gilroy and Judy Sutherland. Ellen was predeceased by her husband Tom, sisters Betty Christel and Mary Hlavatch, brothers-in-law Mike Shanley, Fred Renigar, Mark Sutherland and Jim Gilroy.

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation at St. John Bosco Church, 215 E. County Line Road, Hatboro PA 19040 on Friday, January 17th from 9:30am-10:30am, with the Funeral Mass immediately following. Her interment will be private.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210.

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