Ellen Cook, 76, of Newton, Mass, passed away with her husband Lindsay Cook by her side on October 15, 2024, at Newton Wellesley Hospital due to complications from Alzheimer's.

Ellen was born in in 1948 in Bridgeport, Conn., to the late Gerald and Helen Bogen. Ellen grew up in Derby and Woodbridge, Conn. She graduated in 1970 from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, and later received an M.A. degree from Boston College.

In 1977, she met Lindsay Cook, who happened to live a few buildings over in her apartment complex in Newton, Mass. They married in 1978.

An enormously devoted wife and mother, Ellen will be remembered for her many thoughtful and kind activities, such as being the keeper of the family history, which included making and sending family photo albums to her many cousins.

Joy Bogen, her niece, said, "Family was everything to her. She was the matriarch who was determined to keep everyone together in her graceful way. She was always there to listen: the kind voice on the other end of the line. Her greatest joy was being a mother. She was calm, tender, and loving. She adored parties and always volunteered to bring her favorite dessert, a chocolate cake she made from her mother's recipe."

Joy added, "Ellen loved traveling with Lindsay throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. She was particularly fond of river cruises. She and Lindsay would enjoy the process of planning each trip and researching the places they would visit. They met new friends as they traveled, and Ellen always enjoyed the new cuisines and cultures. She was sure to bring back

memorable gifts for her loved ones from each trip. Ellen also enjoyed spending the summers in Falmouth. She would look forward to annual visits with friends and family."

Ellen maintained close friendships over many decades and distances. She met her lifelong friend Margot Rocklen in sixth grade in Woodbridge, Conn. Margot remembers walking home from school together and treating themselves to an ice cream sundae in the basement of Ellen's home where her parents had installed an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. They had their sweet sixteen party together and, Gina Dietrich, another lifelong friend, remembers how Ellen treasured a photograph of them at that party.

"She was such a perfect and gracious hostess and was always happy to hear my voice. We went back more than 60 years, and that is something you want to hold on to. People she cared about, she cared about deeply," Gina said.

Margot remembered, "I always felt I could talk to her. She was fair-minded and generous and her generosity extended to her support of many charities. When her parents were sick, she was unbelievable and took great care of them, an extremely thoughtful daughter." Ellen's smile, compassionate heart, and extraordinary kindness will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Joy noted, "When you ask me what I remember about Ellen, it is her smile. She was happiest surrounded by family. She loved a birthday party, graduation party, any reason to get together and celebrate the occasion."

Ellen is survived by her husband Lindsay Cook, daughter Amelia DeFelice, son-in-law Michael DeFelice, and granddaughter Evelyn DeFelice, as well as many cousins and family members including Joy Bogen and her children Charlotte, Marielle, Walker and Xavier Bogen. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (act.alz.org).