Ellen M. Shannon

Ellen (nee Dunleavy) Shannon, aged 86 years, was a former resident of Fairfield and entered eternal rest on Monday, March 16, 2015 in Potomac, MD. Ellen was born in Fairfield, CT in 1928. While Ellen grew up in Bridgeport, CT, she always considered Fairfield as her home. In 1951, she married the love of her life, Jack Shannon, and the newlyweds settled into their first home in Southport, CT. A few years later, she and Jack moved to Chatham, NJ where they raised their family and lived for almost 20 years. After an eight-year stay in Plantation, FL, Ellen and Jack returned to their beloved Fairfield in 1980 where they became active members in the Gaelic-American Club and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Ellen and Jack loved their Irish heritage and enjoyed their life in Fairfield. Jack died on 2007 and Ellen moved to Potomac, MD in 2012 to be closer to three of her four children. Ellen was always passionate about style and fashion. She began her career in retailing at DM Read Department Store and went on to a professional career working as a ready-to-wear buyer for local and national department stores in the greater New York Metro area and South Florida all while raising a family with four active children. Later, she became a fashion consultant for Home Shopping Network often designing new offerings. In retirement, she continued her retail inclinations working at tag sales alongside her grammar school friends. She is survived by her four beloved children: Dennis Shannon and his wife Sarah of Falls Church, VA; Cathleen Shannon and her husband, Ron Watkins of Potomac, MD; Tim Shannon and Claudia Contreras of Arlington, VA; and Maureen Marini and her husband, John of Shelton, CT. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her beloved sisters, Terry Dunn and Peggy Moseley; nine grandchildren: Susan, Mark, and Amy Watkins, Ben and Nick Shannon, Sarah, and Brendan Shannon and Anna and Meghan Marini and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4PM until 8PM in Friday, March 27th at Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Road in Fairfield with interment to follow at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mercy Learning Center at 637 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or to the charity of your choice. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com.