Ellen (Wellman) Berrier

Ellen W. Berrier, whose love and warmth touched everyone who knew her, passed away April 26, 2026, at the age of 86.  She was a resident of Covenant Living in Cromwell and was a long time resident of Kiawah Island, SC; Southport, CT; Pittsfield, MA; and Schenectady, NY.

Born on August 27, 1939, in Lafayette, IN, Ellen was the daughter of the late Kathryn Balfe Cassel and Ferdinand John Wellman.  She attended St Mary’s Catholic School, followed by Jefferson High School in Lafayette, IN, where she was an enthusiastic, life-long member of the Superlatives.

Also, a lifelong Purdue fan, Ellen, her parents and all her siblings attended the University in West Lafayette, where her father was a Big 10 Medal of Honor recipient and lettered in football and basketball.  At Purdue, she met her husband Bud, majored in Elementary Education, and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  Upon graduation in 1961, she and Bud married and she taught first grade for several years before dedicating her life to being a homemaker.  Ellen believed very strongly in education and generously helped put all her grandchildren through college.

Ellen was also a lifelong participant and lover of the arts.  She delighted in visiting and volunteering at Museums, took oil and watercolor classes and enjoyed painting.  She was also a master of Fiber Arts, creating beautiful, framed art and decorative pillows.  Four of her Fiber Arts works are currently being shown in an exhibit at Covenant Living Event center through September of this year.

She was a shark at bridge, crosswords and the daily Wordle.  Bridge was a part of her life, and she loved participating in many bridge groups over the years.  Ellen was also a lifelong casual golf player, playing in many women’s golf leagues over the years, having fun with her friends.  In addition to these activities, Ellen was an indoor plant and flower enthusiast, which were present in abundance at all her residences through the years.

Ellen and Bud traveled to many places around the world, both for leisure and as part of Bud’s work.  She had many fond memories of these trips and created beautiful scrapbooks to document them.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Ellen was a joy.  She always made time for friends and family, traveling to see her brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren, high school and college friends.  She also stayed in touch with friends made at the different locations she lived in her life. Funny, witty, smart and delightfully silly at times, she will be missed terribly by all who knew her. 

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Erwin “Bud” F. Berrier Jr. in 2010 and by her brother Ferdinand “Jim” Wellman and beloved sisters-in-law Mary Wellman and Julie Wellman. She is also predeceased by her beloved brother and sister-in-law Dick and Ethelyn (Berrier) Morrison, and nephews Andy Porter and Jim Morrison.

Ellen is survived by her three children and their spouses, Elizabeth “Beth” and Brian Suriner of Glastonbury, CT, Elaine and Michael Archey of Aurora, IL, and Erwin and Sara Stebbins Berrier of Syracuse, NY.  She is also survived by her seven grandchildren Brett, William and Joseph Suriner; Conner, Patrick “PJ” and Megan Archey; and Erwin “Frankie” Berrier.  She is also survived by her sister Mary Porter of Holland, MI and brother David Wellman of Mercer Island, WA, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Johns Island, SC on Saturday, June 27th at 11 am.  Burial will follow at 1 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery on James Island, SC.  A memorial service will be held at the Covenant Living Events Center for residents only on Saturday, May 23rd in Cromwell, CT at 1 pm.   In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen’s memory can be made to Blood Cancers United at bloodcancerunited.org.  Cromwell Funeral Home has care of the arrangements.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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