WATERBURY - It is with heavy hearts that the family of Ellen K. Barrett, age 54 of Waterbury, share the news of her peaceful passing at St. Mary's Hospital on September 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved daughter of Orphine "Chris" Barrett and the late Thomas F. Barrett.

Ellen was born May 11, 1972 in Waterbury and graduated from Crosby High School and from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree. Ellen also obtained a master's degree from Central Connecticut State University and later her 6th year certificate in teaching. Ellen was a teacher in the City of Waterbury for over 30 years, having taught kindergarten at Hopeville Elementary School for 9 years and was currently teaching at Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School for the past 22 years. She loved and mentored her students and fellow teachers and served as a representative of the Waterbury Teachers' Union. Her greatest joy came from the children she taught and spending time with her niece and four nephews. Ellen's sense of humor and quick wit was something she inherited with great pride from her father. Ellen enjoyed traveling to various locations and spending summers with her mother in Myrtle Beach, SC. She was always known to pay it forward with kindness and generosity to not only friends and family, but strangers she just met.

She is survived by her mother Orphine"Chris"(nee-Christolini) Barrett, sister; Catherine (Dwayne)Zajac, brother; Michael(Stephanie)Barrett, niece: Caitlin Zajac, 4 nephews: Thomas, Mitchell, Cole and Peter Barrett, several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Thomas F. Barrett, maternal grandparents Harry & Orphine (nee-Bredice) Christolini and paternal grandparents J. Joseph & Catherine(nee-) Barrett and her beloved dog "Frankie".

Funeral Services for Ellen will be held on Thursday September 17th, 2026 at 11:00am, when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Mary Mother of the Parish, St. Leo the Great Church, 14 Bentwood Dr.,Waterbury, Ct. All those planning to attend are kindly asked to meet directly at the church. Family will receive friends Wednesday September 16th, 2026 from 5:00 to 8:00pm at Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home , 1987 East Main St., Waterbury. Burial will follow Mass on Thursday at Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. The Casey family is honored to assist the Misencik-Greaney Funeral Homes of Avon Ohio and its owner and funeral director, William Greaney a relative of Ellen's who will be directing services locally. To honor Ellen's memory, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital www.stjude.org or Perfect Imperfections, 15 Dunrobin Ln.,Watertown, Ct. 06795 or @Perfect-Imperfections (Trisha Malfitano)Venmo.