Obituary of Ellen McGrath

Ellen Townsend Bradford McGrath

Melbourne resident Ellen McGrath died Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Victoria Landing and Memory Care in Melbourne, Florida. 

She was 81 years old.

Ellen was born and raised in Cape Charles, Virginia. She moved to New Jersey with her husband, Tom, early in their marriage. They moved to Florida from New Jersey 30 years ago. In New Jersey, they lived in South Brunswick for many years. She was a Registered Nurse, and worked at a hospital, a nursing home, and various medical practices. The move to Florida was due to Tom’s transfer to Harris/Intersil in Palm Bay, where he was an engineer. In retirement, she enjoyed water aerobics, arts and crafts, reading, puzzles, traveling, and genealogy, but her greatest joy was in spending time with her grandchildren.

Ellen was predeceased by her husband Thomas J. McGrath, Jr., parents Roger and Margaret Townsend Bradford, her brother James “Jimmy” Bradford, and sister Mary Bradford Bowen Harlow (John Harlow), mother and father-in-laws Veronica E. Burke and Thomas J. McGrath, Sr., and brother-in-law Francis J. “Frank” McGrath.

She is survived by her loving children, their spouses, and grandchildren Mary Ellen and Bruce Watts, son Jacob of Indianapolis, Indiana, Thomas J., III and Victoria, children Corey (Phil), Antonio and Lire (Andrew) of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Michael and Larisa, children Megan, Lauren, and Kaitlyn of Mullica Hill, New Jersey, Karen Kelly and partner Manuel Rosales, children Joshua and Samuel of Melbourne, Florida; her brother John Bradford of Florida, brother and sister-in-laws and their spouses Vincent and Marcene McGrath of Melbourne, Florida, Elizabeth and Dominick Colarusso of Wall, New Jersey, Betty McGrath of Wall, New Jersey, and Elizabeth “Liz” Bradford of West Virginia; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, 1/26 from 10:30 to 11;00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.  The church services will also be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church following visitation at 11:00 a.m., 5655 Stadium Parkway, Melbourne, Florida. The burial will be following mass, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.