Ellen Marie DeGrazia (née Kelly), 55, passed away peacefully at her home in New York on February 5, 2026, after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. She faced her illness with quiet strength, grace, and unwavering love for her family from the time of her diagnosis in July 2023, until her passing.
Born and raised in Throggs Neck in the Bronx, Ellen carried the warmth and heart of her neighborhood with her throughout her life. She spent most of her adult years in Cortlandt Manor, where she built a home filled with love, faith, and kindness…open to anyone who needed it.
Ellen was the beloved wife of Tom, her partner in life since 1990 and her husband since 1994. Their marriage was a true partnership, rooted in love, devotion, faith, and family. Together, they built a life centered around raising their children with compassion and integrity.
She was the proud and devoted mother of Emily, Josh, and Jenna, who were the greatest joys of her life. Ellen’s proudest accomplishment was her family, and she dedicated herself fully to raising her children to be kind, loving, and good people, just like her. After Emily was diagnosed with autism and Josh was born, Ellen made the selfless decision to step away from her career in 1999 to become a full-time mom, a role she embraced wholeheartedly and with boundless love.
Ellen was known for her extraordinary kindness. She never left anyone out, always protected those who needed it, and made everyone feel seen and welcomed. People gravitated toward her warmth, and those who knew her often said there was never a bad word to be spoken about her, because there truly wasn’t one.
A deeply faithful Catholic, Ellen lived her faith not only through prayer, but through action by loving others, raising her children in the Church, and strengthening her husband’s faith along the way. She embodied compassion, humility, and selflessness in her everyday life.
In her quieter moments, Ellen loved to read and was a familiar face at the library. She cherished her dance class at Club Fit, where she found joy, movement, and friendship. Above all else, she treasured time spent with her family, whether through everyday moments or cherished traditions.
One such tradition was Christmas Eve, when Ellen insisted the family open just one present, always pajamas, while playfully insisting, “It could be anything!” even though everyone knew better. It was a small moment, but one that perfectly captured her gentle humor and loving spirit.
Ellen had a special fondness for The Princess Bride, and the phrase “As you wish” a reflection of her life lived in service and love for others.
She is survived by her loving husband Tom, her children Emily, Josh, and Jenna, her sisters Deirdre and Geraldine, her brother Eddie, her sister-in-law Kim, and countless family members and friends whose lives were forever changed by her presence.
Ellen’s love was unconditional, her heart was endless, and her legacy lives on in every life she touched.
In lieu of flowers, Ellen’s wishes were for donations to be made in her name to Tunnels to Towers https://t2t.org/donate/ or St Jude’s https://www.stjude.org.
