OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Elva “Ellie” M. O’Donnell, 85, of Ocean Park and formerly of Waltham, Massachusetts, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford.
She was born Feb. 17, 1929 in Somerville, Mass-achusetts, daughter of Gordon and Ruth (Libby) Strong. Elva graduated from Somerville High School with the class of 1947.
On Oct. 28, 1950, she married Paul O’Donnell in Somerville. They were married for 64 years. They retired to Maine for their love of the beach and Ocean Park.
Elva had worked as a secretary at B & G Realty Co., and later as an electronics technician at L.F.E. Corp in Waltham.
Elva had been a member of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish in Waltham. She belonged to the Ocean Park Association and volunteered her time at The Temple in Ocean Park. She also was a volunteer at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford for many years. Volunteering was an important part of Elva’s life, as she loved people and giving back.
An accomplished seamstress, she enjoyed making suits for her husband and clothing for her children.
She is preceded in death by: a brother, David Strong; and two sisters, Nancy Strong and Muriel Brown.
Elva is survived by: her husband, Paul O’Donnell of Ocean Park; two daughters, Jacquelyn Rundlett and her husband Roger of Orlando, Florida, and Paula Oliveri and her husband Stephen of Waltham, Massachusetts; five grandchildren, Joshua and Melissa Rundlett, Lindsay, Erica and Stephanie Oliveri; two great-grandchildren, Lily and Reagan Rundlett; a brother, Stephen Strong and his wife Geraldine of Hobe Sound, Florida; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Visiting hours will be on Friday, Feb. 6 from 4-7 p.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm Street, Biddeford. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, Feb. 7 at noon.
To share condolences online, visit www.hopememorial.com.
Donations can be made to the Annual Fund of the Ocean Park Association, PO Box 7296, Ocean Park, ME, 04063.
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