Ellana Litch Watson, formerly of Cranford, N.J., died on Dec. 23 at Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala. She was 76.

Born in Plainfield, N.J., she grew up in Westfield and graduated from Westfield High School in 1958. She and her husband, Jack, a Cranford native, made Cranford their home after their marriage in 1968. They had recently moved to Mobile, Ala. to be near their son Douglas and his family.

Lana was a teacher’s aide in the Cranford Public School system for over 25 years, until her retirement in 2009. Although she loved her job working with special education students, she always looked forward to summer break, when she and her family would pack up and drive to their Camp Ground cottage in Oak Bluffs for the summer, where they were surrounded by close friends and wonderful neighbors. One of her great joys was spending her days sitting on the porch reading books, and going to the beach in the afternoon and chatting with friends.

As a 1962 graduate student at Emerson College in Boston, Lana worked backstage alongside legendary makeup artist Jack Stein on many theatrical performances, which became one of her most treasured lifetime experiences. She also enjoyed singing, and was active in choirs throughout her lifetime — and was often featured as a soloist because of her beautiful soprano voice.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, John (Jack) B. Watson, Jr.; daughter Heather Steel and her husband Michael; and son Douglas, his wife Collene, and two grandchildren, Addison and Thea. She is also survived by many cherished family members, including her niece Karin Gallagher Critelli, her husband Thomas, and Karin’s children, Elizabeth and Mitchell, whom she loved dearly.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a,m, at Osceola Presbyterian Church, 1689 Raritan Road, in Clark, N.J. Interment will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs,on the Island she loved so much.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association’s Tabernacle Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 1685 Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or Osceola Presbyterian Church.