Obituary of Ellen M Lyons

Ellen M (Costello) Lyons passed away peacefully with her family by her side on June 22, 2020. Ellen grew up in Peabody on Ayer Street, daughter of the late Margaret Anna Ryan and Francis M. Costello. She is survived by her loving husband Jim Lyons of Peabody, and their children, Maureen Lyons de Gonzalez and her husband Mauricio of Miami, Florida, and her son Robert Lyons and his wife Sonia Lyons, a very special daughter-in-law and friend, and their children, Joseph and Gabriela, all of Beverly. Ellen is also survived by her sister Ann M. (Costello) DiPietro of Danvers and her children, Christina and Steven. Ellen was a 1966 Bishop High School graduate and 1970 Salem State alumni where she majored in Business Education. Ellen worked for Boston Machinery of Peabody where she was secretary to the President. Upon having her children, Ellen decided to stay home and take care of her children. This was by far her favorite career and a very important one too. As a devote Catholic, Ellie played the organ at St. John’s Church in Peabody and attended church regularly. Bishop Robert Reed visited her bedside during her final days. Ellie was a very selfless, caring, and charitable woman, making regular contributions to multiple charities. Her most precious charities are listed below. As an animal lover, she owned many dogs over the years, and more recently owned 3 parakeets. Her favorite parakeet was affectionately named Tweety Bill. In addition to Ellen’s immediate family, Ellen is survived by her in-laws, Nancy (Burns) Lyons, Betty (Tremblay) Lyons, and Bill Lyons and his wife Jeannette. She is also survived by her very special cousins, Judy Buchino of Vienna, VA, Ellen Riboldi of Duxbury, and Paul Cassidy of Palm Springs, CA. Also, near and dear to Ellen’s heart are her in-laws Maria and Jose Machado and their children, Paula, daughter Alexandria, and Alyssa as well as the large extended Machado family from the Azores, Portugal. Ellen’s closest, long term friends include fellow Salem State alums Pauline Pelletier Flahive of Billerica, Kathy Flanigan of Lynnfield, and her childhood friend Theresa Dynan of Rochester, NH. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4-7 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday June 26 at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church, Lynn St. Peabody, followed by her burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. All are required to wear facial coverings and maintain social distancing at both the funeral home and at St. Ann’s Church as well. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s memory can be made to any of her three favorite charities: Catholic TV, The Maryknoll Sisters or the ASPCA.