Mary Ellen Johnson

Holden – Mary Ellen (Fitts) Johnson, 86, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Holden Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center. She was born in Southbridge, the daughter of the late William and Mary (LaChapelle) Fitts and graduated from Southbridge High School.

Mary went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee and pursued a career in medical research. She devoted many years to research at the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research. She married her beloved, the late Richard E. Johnson and the couple lived in Worcester and later Holden for many years. She and Richard enjoyed taking trips to Sheffield, VT where they enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter and relaxing at their home in Dennisport in the summer. Mary was also a long-time member and served on the Board of Directors for the Central New England Brittany Club.

Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard E. Johnson in 2019. She will be lovingly missed and remembered by her niece, Kelley MacDonald and her husband, Ian MacDonald of Boston; her cousins, Ruth Ann (Fitts) Spooner and Emily Turek, both of FL; her brother-in-law, Peter Johnson and his wife, Lisa of Alaska and Arizona; her nephews, Jack Zumwalde and his wife, Brenda, Mark Zumwalde, David Zumwalde; her niece, Diane McKee; and her long-time friend, Joan Bevers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton Street, Jefferson, MA. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 190 Charlton St., Southbridge, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to New England Brittany Rescue, 829 Mill Street, Marion, MA 02738, nebrittanyrescue.org

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