photo by higashitori
From The Star Ledger:
Special education teacher in Springfield, Ellen Frances Bruno, 48, died on Nov. 20, 2008, in Overlook Hospital. Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit R.C. Church, Morris Ave., Union. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Born in Elizabeth, Mrs. Bruno resided in Springfield. She attended Kean University, where she completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. She was a devoted and much loved special education teacher with the Springfield Board of Education, where she received the Teacher of the Year award in 2002 from the Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School. Ellen loved gardening, reading, cooking, and always had time for her family and friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Victoria Ryan, and is survived by her loving husband, Joseph; the joys of her life, daughters, Melisa McKinnon, with her husband, David, and Victoria Bruno; also surviving are her brothers, James and Tim Ryan, and her sister, Carol Hauschild. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to the Center for Hope Hospice, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 or the Community Food Bank of N.J., 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, N.J. 07205 would be appreciated.
