Ellen Christina Stankevicius

Ellen "Eily" Christina (O'Gorman) Stankevicius, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at her home in Walpole, Massachusetts. Born in Cork City, Ireland on October 28, 1938, she was the daughter of David and Margaret (Kelleher) Gorman. Eily moved to the United States when she was ten years old, landing in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. She attended the Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Boston's Brighton neighborhood, graduating in 1958. After graduating from high school, Eily and her mother went through the naturalization process together, proudly becoming United States Citizens when she was in her twenties.

Eily found employment at Western Electric as a keypunch operator. Little did she know, but her future husband worked there as well. Eily met Frank Stankevicius while attending an event at the South Boston Lithuanian Club in the early 1960's. Frank, having seen the beautiful Eily from afar, built up the courage to talk to her, and while doing so they learned that they were actually coworkers. On May 6, 1967, Eily married the love of her life, Frank John Stankevicius, in Saint Columbkille's Church in Brighton.

The newlyweds made their married home in Brighton for a year before moving to Dedham, Massachusetts in 1968. Eily left Western Electric to become a homemaker after the birth of their first child, Frank, that same year. They remained in Dedham through the birth of their second child, Karen, moving to nearby Walpole, Massachusetts in 1987. As a home maker, Eily loved the domestic arts. She enjoyed cooking and baking, especially Irish breads. She wall papered and decorated each of their houses, coordinating the linens to match the curtains, making the houses into homes. Eily and Frank made many sacrifices that allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom, but she made the best of everything she had and made sure her children never went without.

In her free time, Eily enjoyed crafting. She had a talent for macrame, making many hanging plant baskets to decorate her house. She also enjoyed sewing. Her love for decorating was inspired further by her favorite HGTV programs that she would watch and learn from. Outside of the home, Eily enjoyed candlepin bowling, joining leagues with Frank and other family members.

Eily was a humble, dependable, thoughtful and considerate woman who loved her family more than anything else. There was no such thing as extended family to Eily; you were simply her family, and she loved you fiercely. A very social woman, Eily enjoyed being around people and looked forward to the many family parties throughout the year that would inevitably feature loud Irish songs being sung. She was especially proud of being a Grammy, thrilled to be given the title multiple times.

Beloved wife of the late Frank John Stankevicius.

Loving mother of Frank C. Stankevicius, and Karen A. Stankevicius and her partner Robert Bates, all of Walpole

Cherished grandmother of Nicholas A. Bates, Ellie P. Bates, Jackson B.D. Bates, and Erin Bates.

Sister of the late Anastasia "Anna" Reynolds and her late husband Thomas, the late James Gorman and his surviving wife Margaret of Dedham, the late Daniel Gorman, and the late John Gorman and his surviving wife Judith of Dedham; and sister-in-law of George Stankevicius and his wife Nijole.

Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ellen's visitation on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 9:00 – 10:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole, at 11:00 AM, with interment taking place at Knollwood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ellen's name may be made to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting https://www.stjude.org/