Ellen M. “Mammie” Drogo

Drogo, Ellen Marie (Kirby) “Mammie” of Braintree, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 9, 2013 surrounded by her loving family.  

She was the darling daughter of the late Edward and the late Mary Kirby of Dorchester.  Ellen is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Frank Drogo Sr. of Braintree.  Her loving daughters Donna Richardi and her husband Mike, Mary Ficociello and her husband Steven both of Weymouth.  Her son Frank Drogo Jr. of Braintree.  Ellen was the beloved grandmother to Angela and her husband Casey, Michael, Frankie, Francesca, Gina and Daniel.  The proud great grandmother to Charlie.  She was the caring sister of Edwina Kirby, Edward and Beverly Kirby, Ann and Vic Shannon, Joan Kirby, Kate and Jim Daly and the late Maureen and Bill Tippett.  She was the sister-in-law to John and Rita Drogo, Mary and Roy Fernald, Roseann and Fred Astrauskas and the late Joe and Bobbie Drogo.  Also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ellen met her husband Frank in 1953 where he was a frogman in the Navy.  They married in 1956.  Ellen’s main love in life was her family, always putting their needs before her own.  She never missed an event involving her grandchildren; hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball games, school plays, choruses, gymnastics, dance recitals, martial arts tournaments, sacraments and graduations. She was known to constantly brag about all of their successes.  Ellen loved cooking, nobody ever left her house hungry.  She loved to travel and her most nostalgic trip was to Galway, Ireland to visit the birthplace of her mother. 

For 39 years, up until the day she passed, she was an avid member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.  She was the Past State Commander and served on the finance committee.  She was also an Executive Committee Member at the national level.  Ellen served as Commander, Adjutant, Treasurer and all appointed positions for her Local Unit 29 in Braintree.  Ellen spent thousands of hours volunteering at the West Roxbury VA Hospital and other VA Hospitals statewide.  She was devoted to the cause of improving and advancing the condition, health and interest of wounded, injured or disabled Veterans and their families.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital)  Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 9 AM on Friday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Clare’s Church, Braintree at 10 AM. Burial in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.

Donations in Ellen’s name may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Braintree, Unit # 29 Attn. Cathy Casey 788 Liberty Street, Braintree, MA 02184.