Obituary for Ellen M. Chadwick
Gansevoort
Ellen Marie Chadwick, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and more, passed away peacefully at
home on April 27. Ellen has followed her brothers Larry Norton and William Norton, and her sisters
Jean Pollock and Lucy Pollock to the next, better life. She leaves her children, Kelly, and James, and
grandchildren, Colyn, and Travis who will miss her deeply.
Ellen was born on February 2, 1944, the first of her siblings to be born in a hospital. She grew up
attending a one-room schoolhouse in West Hebron before moving on to the “big” school in the
metropolis of Salem, NY. She graduated from Salem Washington Academy in 1961 and started
nursing school that fall. She briefly interrupted her nursing studies (for 20 years) to raise two
children, James and Kelly. Ellen often joked that in the interim between her studies, they had
“discovered a dozen new elements on the periodic table” for her to learn. After earning her nursing
degree in 1984 from Adirondack Community College, she worked as a nurse for many years and
later helped Mario Sassone, her common-law husband, run his multiple businesses before using her
nursing skills to care for him in his final days.
In 1987, Ellen visited Korea to attend her son’s wedding ceremony and in 2003, Ellen vacationed in
Europe with her sister Jean, complaining about the food but raving about the museums.
In her later years, Ellen enjoyed monthly brunches with extended family, cherishing the time spent
with her nieces and nephews, whom she adored. Ellen loved pecan pie, Jeopardy, books, and rolling
her eyes at dumb jokes. Her sarcastic wit was infamous among those who knew her well, as was her
refusal to suffer fools gladly. She will be remembered fondly. Donations may be made in her name to
The Community Hospice at https://www.communityhospice.org who were gracious and provided
immense comfort in Ellen’s final days
Ellen Marie Chadwick, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and more, passed away peacefully at
home on April 27. Ellen has followed her brothers Larry Norton and William Norton, and her sisters
Jean Pollock and Lucy Pollock to the next, better life. She leaves her children, Kelly, and James, and
grandchildren, Colyn, and Travis who will miss her deeply.
Ellen was born on February 2, 1944, the first of her siblings to be born in a hospital. She grew up
attending a one-room schoolhouse in West Hebron before moving on to the “big” school in the
metropolis of Salem, NY. She graduated from Salem Washington Academy in 1961 and started
nursing school that fall. She briefly interrupted her nursing studies (for 20 years) to raise two
children, James and Kelly. Ellen often joked that in the interim between her studies, they had
“discovered a dozen new elements on the periodic table” for her to learn. After earning her nursing
degree in 1984 from Adirondack Community College, she worked as a nurse for many years and
later helped Mario Sassone, her common-law husband, run his multiple businesses before using her
nursing skills to care for him in his final days.
In 1987, Ellen visited Korea to attend her son’s wedding ceremony and in 2003, Ellen vacationed in
Europe with her sister Jean, complaining about the food but raving about the museums.
In her later years, Ellen enjoyed monthly brunches with extended family, cherishing the time spent
with her nieces and nephews, whom she adored. Ellen loved pecan pie, Jeopardy, books, and rolling
her eyes at dumb jokes. Her sarcastic wit was infamous among those who knew her well, as was her
refusal to suffer fools gladly. She will be remembered fondly. Donations may be made in her name to
The Community Hospice at https://www.communityhospice.org who were gracious and provided
immense comfort in Ellen’s final days