Ellen (Reidy) Wetherbee, a resident of the Henrietta Brewer House in Vineyard Haven, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 2, at the Falmouth Hospital following a brief illness. She was 88.

She was born in Laconia, N.H., on July 29, 1926 to Timothy P. and Anna (Fitzgerald) Reidy. Ellen grew up in Laconia, graduated from Laconia High School and went on to receive her nursing degree from the Laconia Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. Her early career included a nursing position at Dartmouth College Health Services in Hanover, N.H., followed by several years at the Manchester VA Hospital in Manchester, N.H. Ellen was an operating room nurse and it was there that she met her future husband, H. Parker Wetherbee, an orthopedic surgeon. Ellen and Parker were married in 1966 and moved to Mountaintop, Pa., where Parker had taken a position at the VA Hospital in Wilkes Barre.

During this time, Ellen’s creative talents blossomed and she was known by many for her gardening skill and the beautiful grounds of their home which she lovingly cared for. She also became an accomplished seamstress, making countless custom draperies and slipcovers, a talent she shared throughout her life with many family members and friends who needed help with decorating their homes. After Parker’s death in 1969, Ellen returned to Laconia and became an active member of the community. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, volunteered at the Laconia Hospital, and served on the board of the Taylor Home for several years. She was an avid tennis and golf enthusiast and was greatly loved by her many friends and extended family.

Her final years were spent living on Martha’s Vineyard with her sister, Gerry, until her death in 2013.

Ellen is survived by her niece Kathleen Sollitto and her husband Joseph of Oak Bluffs; two nephews, Charles Davis Jr. and his wife Norma Brambilla of Pacific Grove, Ca., Mark Davis and his wife Carola DeRoy of Richmond, Ca.; six grandnieces and nephews, Elizabeth Taylor of Essex, Conn., Kara Taylor of West Tisbury, Cole and Martha Davis of Pacific Grove, Ca., Sarah Cupp and Aaron Davis of Moline, Ill., and five great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Dr. H. Parker Wetherbee and her sister Geraldine (Davis) Cronig.

Funeral services will be held at a later date in Laconia, N.H.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Buffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.