Funeral Service: Ellen Hagan

Time: Jan 23, 2024 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89393413712?pwd=bFhPRytiRWdSM2lrajNvLzJyb0h0Zz09

Meeting ID: 893 9341 3712

Passcode: 790137

---

One tap mobile

+16468769923,,89393413712#,,,,*790137# US (New York)

+16469313860,,89393413712#,,,,*790137# US

---

Dial by your location

• +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

• +1 646 931 3860 US

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 305 224 1968 US

• +1 309 205 3325 US

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 386 347 5053 US

• +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

• +1 507 473 4847 US

• +1 564 217 2000 US

• +1 669 444 9171 US

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US

• +1 719 359 4580 US

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 360 209 5623 US

• +353 1 653 3898 Ireland

• +353 6 163 9031 Ireland

• +353 1 240 8941 Ireland

• +353 1 536 9320 Ireland

• +353 1 653 3895 Ireland

• +353 1 653 3897 Ireland

Meeting ID: 893 9341 3712

Passcode: 790137

Ellen Kieran Hagan was born in the tiny village of Drumass, Inniskeen, County Monaghan, Ireland on September 28th, 1920. She was the daughter of Rose and Michael Kieran and one of seven children. She grew up in a two room Irish cottage and worked alongside her family on their farm. It was there that she was first instilled with the virtues and dignity to be found in hard and honest work, virtues that stayed with her throughout her long life.

At the age of 19, word came from America that her beloved Aunt Mary Breen, who emigrated from Ireland earlier, had saved enough money to sponsor one of the Kieran children to take up a new life with her in New York. Despite her love for home, Ellen eagerly embraced the opportunity. She later recalled being told that the streets of New York were paved with gold and the young girls were all attired in silk dresses. And so she said a melancholy but confident farewell to Inniskeen and followed in the footsteps of so many before her in sailing “across the broad Atlantic” to the shores of America.

Ellen quickly acclimated to her exciting new life on the West Side of Manhattan and loved to attend the Irish dances that were so prevalent then. But she soon discovered that no gold bricks were to be found on the streets of the City and so she found employment as a cashier in the Schrafft’s restaurant chain. There she put to good use her lifelong skill at managing money. Her sharp brain was always a good match for even the most modern computer!

 It was at Schrafft’s that she soon caught the eye of a fellow employee. John Hagan was a handsome red-haired Irishman, himself the child of Irish immigrants. The romance soon blossomed and they were wed on June 11th, 1949.

John and Ellen settled down on East 76th Street in Manhattan, eventually bringing with them Ellen’s beloved Aunt Mary, who she was lovingly devoted to until her passing in 1966. Their family grew to include their two sons and a daughter, making for a very happy life indeed.

Sadly, in 1968 tragedy struck with John’s sudden and unexpected passing at the age of 46. Despite her devastation, Ellen’s deeply religious faith never wavered, and she prayed to find a way to somehow carry on her life. Shortly thereafter, that way came when she was offered the opportunity to work for the Parish of Saint Jean Baptiste. She was employed first in the office of Saint Anne’s Shrine and later as the Parish Secretary, a position she held with great pride until retiring (with some measure of hesitation) at age 95. She cherished her wonderful relationship with the Saint Jean Baptiste Parish Community, where she attained iconic status and where she will always be loved and admired.

In her legendary career as Parish Secretary, Ellen had the honor of meeting such celebrities as former President Nixon, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, the singer Bono, her dear friend Cardinal O’Connor, and so many famous celebrities from around the world. She also would be visited daily by the hungry and destitute seeking assistance from the hardships of life. No matter their station in life, Ellen treated everyone she met with the same dignity and respect. She neither bowed down to anyone nor looked down on anyone, and she had no use for arrogance or pretense. 

Ellen was predeceased by her beloved husband, parents and siblings. Left to cherish her memory are her children, John, Edward (Karen) and Roseanne Hagan-Laverty (Patrick); her grandchildren, Daniel Hagan, Erin McNamara (Patrick) and Eileen Laverty, and her many nieces, nephews, and their families, in America, Ireland and England. 

In lieu of flowers, Ellen would have greatly appreciated contributions to her beloved Shrine of Saint Anne at Saint Jean Baptiste Church.