Obituary of Ella Mae Meehan

Ella Mae Meehan (new Riddle), age 91, most recently of Garnet Valley, PA, passed away peacefully after a long illness and decline early Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Born at home in South Philadelphia to the late Frank and Ethel (Camp) Riddle. Mae was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Leo, who passed late 2020; her daughter, Eileen (Vella); her son, Thomas; her daughter-in law, Joanne (Heusman); and all of her siblings, Marie (Sissy Mosetter), Ethel (Ducky Manion), Claire (Williamson), Frank Riddle and James Riddle. Mae is survived by her loving children: daughter, Peggy, sons Francis (Lisa) and Brian (Kim), son-in-law Philip Vella; her loved grandchildren Jaclyn Godshall (Justin), Lauren Vella, Fran Meehan (Allyson), Kelly Steinman (Evan), Austin Meehan (Courtney Lane), Jack Meehan, Bryan Meehan (Haleigh), and Alaina Meehan (James Short). Mae, GG, cherished her great grandchildren Miles and Henry Godshall and Gavin Steinman and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of two more great- grandsons in early 2026.

Mae was a dedicated, full-time homemaker until her youngest was in high school when she started working part-time for Kelly Cable on what, at the time, was referred to as the "wench bench" cleaning and refurbishing cable TV boxes. When Kelly Cable relocated, she was thrilled to start work at Genuardi's Food Market as a cashier. She formed many long-term friendships there that continued for many years after her retirement.

Mae enjoyed activities of all kinds but was particularly fond of bingo, the casino, trips to Virginia to visit her daughter and to the shore (Cape May) in later years. She enjoyed arts and crafts of all kinds and in her later years discovered she had a strong competitive spirit when it came to games at The Residence at Chadds Ford. Her favorite activity, though, was spending time around the dining room table with her siblings, her nieces, her family and her neighbors. Mae was a shopping queen; just the mention of a great sale or new outlet and she was ready to go. She will be greatly missed!

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Mae's life on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 10:00-11:00AM at the Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Road, Garnet Valley, PA, followed by a Funeral Liturgy at 11:00AM. Interment, S.S. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, PA.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org)

Online condolences may be made at www.paganofuneralhome.com