Obituary of Ellen Walsh Fagan

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Ellen Marie Walsh Fagan, our Beloved Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Neighbor, and Friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Lansdowne, VA. She went from the arms of her Loving Family here on Earth to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother Mary to be reunited into the Loving Arms of her Husband of 38 years, Bob Fagan, (March 24, 1991) and their Son, Robert, Jr. (October 19, 2014), her Mother and Father Catherine Walsh (nee Lane) and Michael Walsh, her Beloved Sister Honora Walsh, and her brothers Dan and his wife Rita Walsh and Joe and his wife Nancy Walsh, and Cousin Mary Theresa Lane.

She leaves to mourn her passing, 7 Surviving Children, 3 Son-in-Laws, 5 Daughter-in-Laws, 27 Grandchildren, 22 Great Grandchildren, and many other Relatives, Friends and Neighbors.

Ellen was born January 6, 1930 in Washington, DC. She was the daughter of Catherine Walsh (nee Lane) and Michael Walsh both Immigrants from County Kerry Ireland and sister of Daniel, Honora, and Joseph Walsh all of whom predeceased her.

Ellen graduated from St. Gabriel’s Grade School and Sacred Heart High School in Washington, DC. She was also a graduate of The Washington School for Secretaries. She and her future husband, Bob met on a blind date while Bob was attending Georgetown University in Washington, DC. They were married at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church on November 29, 1952. It was a match made in Heaven.

Together, Ellen and Bob had:

8 Children, 3 Son-in-Laws, and 5 Daughter-in Laws: Bridget Fagan Arrowsmith (David), Maureen Fagan Ruel (Peter), Robert Fagan, Jr. (Connie), Patrick Fagan (Mary), Margaret Fagan Strieter (Jerome), Sean Fagan (Robin), James Fagan (Lisa), and Michael Fagan (Elizabeth).

27 Grandchildren: Mary Arrowsmith Allen (Marc), Joseph Arrowsmith (Colleen), Michael Arrowsmith- (Bridget and Dave); Teresa Ruel Balogh (Jared), Christine Ruel Lorusso (Chris), Catherine Ruel Lopez, (Ivan), Lauren Ruel Armstrong (Ryan), Robert Ruel-(Maureen and Pete); Carolyn Fagan Hammock (Brian), Jennifer Fagan Campbell (Ryan)-(Rob and Connie); Kaitlynn Fagan Ivascu (George), Ryan Fagan, James Fagan-(Pat and Mary); Carrie Strieter Arnsberger (Christopher), Matthew Strieter (Tammy), Erin Strieter-(Margaret and Jerry); Frances Fagan (engaged to Lt. CMDR. Ty Fritz), Christen Fagan, Brendan Fagan, Allison Fagan, McKenzie Fagan, Kaylan Fagan-(Sean and Robin); Nicholas Fagan, Christopher Fagan, Jordan Fagan (Jim and Lisa); Hunter Fagan, Colby Fagan-(Michael and Beth).

22 Great Grandchildren: Katie and Robert Allen- (Bridget and Dave); Michael Balogh, Luke and Leah Lorusso, Olivia and Christopher Lopez, Baby Armstrong on the way-(Maureen and Pete); Ella, Oliver, and Leo Hammock, Grayson and Parker Campbell-(Rob and Connie); Andrei, Kyle, Rowan, and Daniel Ivascu-(Pat and Mary); Madison, Sophia, and Ryan Arnsberger, Logan and Everett Strieter-(Margaret and Jerry).

Ellen was a Sainted Gift of God to all of us. She was a loving, devoted Sister, and a Proverbs 31 Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Friend. Mom was industrious, full of creativity, strength, kindness, generosity, fun and love. She taught us by the way she lived that it was not about the things you have but about who you are. People not things were her riches and gold. She also taught us by the way she lived that loving, and doing for others is what it’s all about. She was totally selfless, always asking, “What can I do for you?” Ellen would give you the shirt off her back. She was always seeking to help and support you and make things better than they were before. She was always believing in you, encouraging you, cheering you on, making you feel and know that you are special and you are loved, and that everyone has within them special gifts uniquely given to them by God to do great things to help others and make a difference. Never complaining, as she would say, “What good does it do?” always taking a little time to have fun and laugh and enjoy life and the people God put in her life, embracing, loving, and welcoming all equally. She was our Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma and by the way that she lived her life a teacher to us all “par excellence”. She was a woman of Deep Strength and Faith, a Doer of the Word who led by Example and Inspired and Encouraged us all to strive to do the same. She “was” and “Is” God’s Blessing to us all.

With a Family as large as ours, remembering our Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma in the way we would like in this Obituary is not possible. So, we hope we have done the next best thing to honor Ellen Marie Walsh Fagan.

After her Funeral Mass, a link will be added both on the Live Stream site and to the bottom of this Obituary page of our Family Remembrances of Ellen Marie Walsh Fagan and Pictures.

We thank You God for Your gift of Ellen Marie Walsh Fagan to all of us.

Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma,

You Remain Forever in Our Hearts.

Until we are all reunited together again in our Eternal Home

We Love You Always and Forever!

XOXOXO

Your Family

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at:

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church 6900 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

Presently, due to CoVid, Masks are required and the numbers allowed in the Church are limited to (125 People). Please watch the news for any updates on this.

For those who are unable to attend in person, a link to a LIVE STREAM of the Funeral Mass is here :  Click here - https://evt.live/ellenfagan

Immediately following Mass, Interment will take place at:

Gate of Heaven Cemetery 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20817

Respectfully, because of the limited numbers allowed at the Cemetery (25 People due to CoVid), Interment will be Private.

In Lieu of Flowers, contributions may be made to: Candido Cortez, https://www.gofundme.com/f/am8ca4-sample?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR1tOWAEpjNqSXZ8H-qbakiFKpAr0ZC_h3SQVtbfPH5R9kb8dovQ8WTrwyg

ST JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

PO BOX 50

MEMPHIS TN 38101-9929

 

Family Remembrances and Photos.  Please click link below to view.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19mc6VSf3eG4lMbDsV0M8eYUnE8Cl8P8a/view?usp=sharing