Ellen Cutler
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(Pittsfield) - Ellen Marie McKeever Cutler, 71, longtime resident of 51 Brookside Drive in Pittsfield, died peacefully on Monday, March 28th, 2022 at home, surrounded by her family, following a valiant and brave three year battle with ovarian cancer.
Born in Pittsfield on March 6th, 1951 to the late Francis J. McKeever Sr. and Mary (Raftery) McKeever, Ellen grew up in the North End of Pittsfield in the midst of the baby boom and General Electric era, attended the former St. Charles Elementary School, and was a 1969 graduate of St. Joseph's Central High School, where she graduated fourth in her class and was twice named Prom Queen.
Continuing her education, Ellen earned an associate's degree at Berkshire Community College in 1971, and then attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where she earned a bachelor's degree in French Education in 1974. While at UMass, Ellen also studied for a semester abroad at the University of Grenoble in France.
Ellen worked as a substitute teacher in the Pittsfield Public Schools before beginning her career in insurance, working for many years as a Personal Lines Account Manager at Stevenson and Company Insurance Agency on North Street. Ellen deeply enjoyed the family-like atmosphere at Stevenson's and the lifelong friendships that she developed with her colleagues. Ellen was employed here until 1988, when she then devoted the remainder of her life to being a full-time mother.
In 1981, Ellen met Dr. Alan Cutler at the Dalton Depot at a David Grover performance. A chance meeting blossomed into a long-term relationship, and Alan and Ellen were married on July 26th, 1987 in Pittsfield. Ellen and Alan's life together was devoted to their three children, Josh, Zach, and Julie, and ensuring that their were raised in a home of love, good values, education, and music. They reveled in their academic achievements and took deep pride in their life's successes. Alan passed away on March 4th, 2020. Ellen was a deeply doting grandmother to her beloved James, playing an integral role in his development in his first two years.
Ellen held a deep passion for music, theatre, and the arts. Ellen was a performer in the Town Players and Berkshire Public Theatre, was a ballet and contra dancer, and danced in Pittsfield's Ethnic Fair celebrations. In recent years, Ellen rediscovered her love for singing and performance through her work with the Berkshire Concert Choir and the Temple Anshe Amunim adult volunteer choir. Ellen was a talented quilter, knitter, and dollmaker whose work was displayed at the City of Pittsfield's Forty Shades of Green displays, and was featured in charity auctions for the Cantarella School of Dance.
Ellen leaves behind one daughter, Julie H. Cutler of Pittsfield; two sons, Joshua M. Cutler of Pittsfield and Zachary J. Cutler of Pittsfield; one grandson, James T. Cutler of Pittsfield; one sister, Colleen (Kevin) Harper of Ormond Beach, Florida; four brothers, Michael McKeever of Pittsfield, Matthew McKeever of Pittsfield, Chuck (Franny) McKeever of Marblehead, and Paul (Kathy) McKeever of Lanesboro; a sister-in-law, Roslind Kushner (Neil) of Norwood; six nephews and six nieces; her beloved cat, Andre, and so many friends and extended family members who loved her dearly.
Besides her husband and parents, Ellen was predeceased by her older brother, Francis J. McKeever Jr., who died on November 9th, 2019, her mother-in-law, Zelda Cutler, who died on October 13th, 2011; her father-in-law, Maurice Cutler, who died on July 25th, 2014; and her daughter-in-law, Jessica Cutler, who died on April 3rd, 2020.
Ellen's family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Trevor Bayliss and the compassionate and caring employees of the BMC Cancer Center on Tor Court, as well as the employees of the Oncology Floor of Berkshire Medical Center, where she received the most exemplary care during the course of her illness.
FUNERAL NOTICE: To celebrate Ellen's vibrant life with stories, songs, good food, and displays of her artwork, the Cutler Family would like to invite visitors to the family home at 51 Brookside Drive in Pittsfield on Thursday, March 31st from 6-9 PM (Kaddish will be said at 7 PM); Saturday, April 2nd from 6-9 PM; and Sunday, April 3rd from 1-4 PM. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Temple Anshe Amunim or to the Berkshire Concert Choir, two of Ellen's most beloved organizations, in care of the funeral home. FLYNN & DAGNOLI-BENCIVENGA FUNERAL HOME, 5 Elm Street, Pittsfield, has been entrusted with arrangements. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com