It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eleanor P. Paradise on February 21, 2025, at the age of 91, just two weeks after the passing of her beloved husband of 68 years, Warren J. Paradise.
Born in Little Neck, Long Island, May 11, 1933, the only child of Eleanor (Moran) and William Werling, Ellie was raised in Queens, NY and later Miami, FL.
A lifelong athlete, Ellie (aka Slugger) was a star softball player through high school, and later discovered skiing, tennis, and golf.
An attentive student at Bayside High School, Ellie’s first job after graduating was at Nabisco in New Jersey, where she said the perks were plentiful and tasty. After Nabisco, Ellie took an office job on Wall Street, where she relished life in Manhattan.
Then came her days in Miami Beach, where Ellie enjoyed all that Miami offered. One of the more memorable nights occurred at Wally’s Dance Club, where she met her future husband who was in town on leave with the Marines.
Once bitten by the love bug, Ellie moved to Stoughton, Massachusetts to live with her future in-laws, who accepted her with open arms and remained close the rest of their lives.
After getting hitched on a rainy September day in 1956 in Dedham, MA, the future brightened when Ellie and Warren moved to a small house in Natick, MA (“I loved that house” she often said) and started to raise a family.
In 1964, the family of four moved to Fayville, MA where they quickly became part of the community through sports and town clubs.
A noted member of the local tennis community for decades, Ellie was a fixture at St. Mark’s, where she taught the game to many Southborough kids. She also enjoyed playing and competing at Sudbury River Tennis Club, Longfellow Tennis, and Reservoir Racquet Club, where she worked for several years. It was through tennis that Ellie developed many lasting friendships. In 2013, Ellie was able to live a lifelong dream of attending Wimbledon with her daughter and granddaughter.
Ellie loved to travel and (at least try to) introduce culture into the lives of her husband and family. Over the years they enjoyed trips throughout the US, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
But, her favorite place to retreat to was her cottage in New Hampshire where family and friends gathered for board games, beach parties, water sports, and mandatory booze cruises.
A bonafide foodie, thoughtful entertainer, and accomplished chef, Ellie’s dinner parties and holiday spreads were experiences that would make her mentor, Julia Child, proud.
A lover and supporter of the arts, Ellie enjoyed painting, reading, attending music and cultural events, visiting museums, and watching old movies where she could name and dish the dirt on every cast member.
Ellie was also a passionate supporter of several community and humanitarian causes, including Healthcare Without Walls.
Ellie lived a long, fulfilling life, and touched many lives along the way. In her last two years, she and Warren resided at The Willows in Westborough, where they continued to make friends and be involved in the community.
A deeply caring wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pet lover, Ellie leaves behind many friends, and is survived by her daughter, Karen Paradise-D’Ortenzio, son-in-law, Michael, and their children Michael Jr. and Victoria; her son, Glenn, daughter-in-law, Cara (Dickinson), and their children, Paulina and Willow; And her great granddog, Roger.
A dual celebration of life for Ellie and Warren will be held May 3, 2025, 12-4pm, at the Southborough Community House, 28 Main St., Southborough, MA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to Healthcare Without Walls would be appreciated.
(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)
