Ellen Cecilia O'Brien

Ellen Cecilia O’Brien, age 61, died on May 30, 2024 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. Ellen was born on July 23, 1962 to the late George T. (Terry) and Patricia E. O’Brien. She is survived by her husband Russell Souder and her two sons and their families - James (Jimmy) LaRue, Brandie and their daughters Avery Cecilia and Morgan Denise; and Michael LaRue, Jennifer Carter and their daughter Josephine Ellen (Josie). Besides her one deceased brother, Terry, she is also survived by eight of her siblings and many in-laws, Katherine Kramer (Kirk), Mary O’Brien (Wayne Hewitt), Daniel (Michelle), John, Robert, Patrick (Teresa), Peggy Doyle (Thomas) and Bernadette O’Brien-New (Charles New, deceased), as well as seventeen nieces and nephews.

Ellen was a loving wife, sister, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.  Ellen was raised in Glenn Dale, Maryland, and a graduate of St. Patrick's Academy in Washington, DC. She and Russell married in 1995 and raised their family in Crofton, Maryland, before moving to Chesapeake Beach in 2006. She was an active parishioner of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in North Beach.

Ellen loved music of every sort, attending her grandchildren’s activities, thoughtfully decorating her house, visiting craft shows and doing her own projects. She had a knack for finding that perfect gift that was thoughtfully picked just for you.

Mostly Ellen loved people and her life was full because of relationships. Her first love was her family—living or deceased they were in her heart. Besides sharing their own love and friendship, she and Russ shared her greatest joy--spending time with her sons and their families. She loved seeing her boys mature into great fathers to her granddaughters, whom she loved with all her heart.

She delighted in and took seriously being the big sister to her siblings and their families and played a ‘big sister’ role in the extended family. An admirable quality was that she maintained rich friendships with people from all areas of her life even from her earliest days.

Visitation will be held at Beall Funeral Home (6512 NW Crain Highway, Bowie, MD 20715) on Monday, June 10 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church (8816 Chesapeake Ave, North Beach, MD 20714) at 10:15 on Tuesday, June 11, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery (8000 Woodyard Rd, Clinton, MD 20735). There will be no formal procession to the cemetery but the procession will form in front of the cemetery office at 12:30.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the repass following the burial at the American Legion from 2:00 to 6:00 pm (3330 Chesapeake Beach Road, Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732).

Since people have offered to help, we suggest helping Russell who has health issues of his own which forced him into early retirement.

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