Ellen (Donovan) Fallon

Ellen (Donovan) Fallon, 75, of Scituate and Boston, passed away on December 15, 2017, after a brief illness. Everyone Ellen encountered responded to her positive outlook, her warm personality, and her generous nature. Born in Boston, MA, in 1942, Ellen was raised in Milton. She graduated from Fontbonne Academy in 1960 and from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1964. After college, she married Peter G. Fallon Jr., also of Milton. Throughout the 1970s, Ellen was dedicated to improving her children’s educational opportunities, serving on the board of the Old Colony Montessori School in Hingham, MA, where she developed many life-long friendships.

In the mid-1980s, Ellen attended the Radcliffe School of Landscape Design before joining the Museum Associates at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She was engaged with many committees at the MFA, was chair of the Museum Associates, and co-chair of the Gallery Instructors. Ellen remained deeply embedded in the museum community for the remainder of her life. Ellen divided her time between Boston and Scituate. While in Boston, she and Peter were always busy attending lectures, art openings, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the theater. While in Scituate, she worked in her extensive gardens and crafted memorable meals for her family and friends. She relished creating gatherings that were simultaneously impressive and easy going. Everyone felt welcome at her table.

For the last 18 years, Ellen embraced her role as “Gammy.” She cherished spending time with her two grandchildren, drawing with Claire and skiing with Liam.  Multiple times a year, Ellen and Peter would travel to various parts of the world. Many of these trips were shared with her immediate family or coordinated through the Museum of Fine Arts.

Ellen is predeceased by her parents Magdalene and Frederick Donovan (Milton, MA). She is survived by her husband Peter G. Fallon Jr. (Scituate, MA); brother Fred Donovan (Garland, ME); son Peter G. Fallon III and wife Sarah Devlin (Phippsburg, ME); daughter Jennifer Fallon, husband John Coen, and two grandchildren, Liam and Claire Coen (San Francisco, CA).

Family and friends are invited to visit from 4:00–7:00pm, Wednesday, December 20, at McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home at 1 Summer St., Cohasset, MA 02025. The funeral mass will be at 10:00am, Thursday, December 21, at the Parish of St. Anthony, 10 Summer St., Cohasset, MA 02025. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s name may be sent to the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, attention Catherine East. Or, via www.mfa.org/give.

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