Ellen L. (Karjalainen) Adams

ORANGE-Ellen (Karjalainen) Adams, 82, of Cheney Street, died early Friday morning, January 15, 2021 at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol.

 Born in South Royalston, MA on October 2, 1938 to Armas Karjalainen from South Royalston, MA and Elsa (Starsja) Karjalainen from Finland. She was the youngest of 4 siblings, and attended school in Royalston and Athol before becoming a student at Templeton High School.

As an adult, she worked jobs in several local industries including Athol Table, a toy manufacturer, and a shoe company. She left the work industry in 1974 to marry Robert Adams from Athol to become a mother and homemaker in Phillipston where she lived next door to her mother and several cousins for many years.

She ran a small farm, selling milk and fresh eggs from her home.

She enjoyed wildlife in all its forms both in her backyard and on her many excursions to the Quabbin.

Ellen was a master at crocheting and could recreate the fanciest of doilies and other items without ever seeing a written pattern.

She was a loving mother and grandmother, most recently became a great grandmother for the second time just 4 days before her passing.

Ellen  is survived by her daughter, Michelle Sampson, her partner, James Quirk, three grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ryan, and Sean Sampson, and two great grandchildren Kali Mae Staab and Noelle Rose Dennis, all of Orange, and many nieces and nephews.

She will be greatly missed as she enters the next phase of her soul's journey.

In her name, we of the Universal Life Panthiest Church urge each of you to wear a mask and do what you can to protect our elders during this pandemic - Covid-19 kills.

There are no calling hours or services.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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