8/2/1937 – 2/14/2016

Memorial Website

Ellen Parrella died peacefully in her sleep last Sunday. She was surrounded by her loving children and the beautiful sounds of her favorite symphony – Beethoven’s Seventh. Ellen did not believe in life after death, but rather that we live on in the memories of our loved ones, the knowledge and inspiration that we pass along, and the examples we set in life in order to make the world a more beautiful place. She spoke her mind passionately and forcefully, whether praising beauty and competence or providing constructive criticism, knowing that unless she spoke up, an opportunity to recognize or improve things would be missed. She was a passionate patron of the Arts, Literacy and Refugee Resettlement. She was a tireless force for good in this world, and a huge personality. We will miss her greatly.

Ellen shown here in 2011, doing publicity and contracts for Newtown Friends of Music. She was fiercely devoted to her NFM members and strove daily to bring exquisite music ~ superbly performed, to Newtown.

Ellen pictured here in 1970, in front of the very first seasonal poster for the Newtown Arts Festival, of which she was a founding Board Member and Secretary. The poster shows American opera singer Marilyn Horne, coming to the Newtown High School in February 1971 with the New Jersey Symphony, to perform Rossini’s La Donna del Lago. The New York Times magazine in her hands shows Ms. Horne on the cover at the Metropolitan opera that very season.