Elsie P. "Pearl" (Burnell) Hamilton passed away at her home in Melrose, after a long battle with cancer, on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. She was 82 years of age. Elsie was born in Mexico, Maine on July 24, 1928 to the late Ivory & Rena E. (Wiggin) Burnell. She moved to Melrose in 1938, was raised in Melrose and graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1946. Mrs. Hamilton lived in Melrose for 12 years, Wilmington for 30 years and the past 11 years back in Melrose. Elsie realized her dream of becoming a florist by working at Kellogg's Florist in Melrose and managed the florist at Logan Airport for several years. Mrs. Hamilton also worked as a bookkeeper for Delroy Construction Company in Andover for 22 years. Elsie loved gardening, feeding her birds, swimming, both in the ocean and in Governor's Lake and her host of friends. Most of all she loved life and spending time at her daughter's cottage in Raymond, NH. Mrs. Hamilton was the beloved wife of the late Edward Hamilton. Loving mother of Rena LaVasseur of Melrose. Devoted grandmother of Jeannine M. LaVasseur of Melrose. Cherished sister of Ada Moore & her husband George of ME and the late Everett, Paul, Alan & Daniel Burnell. Aunt of George Moore Jr., Linda Breen, Eric Moore, Nancy Moore & the late Sherry Turner. Also survived by several other nieces, nephews & friends. A funeral service will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Tues. Oct. 12th at 12Noon. Visitation prior to the service on Tuesday from 10:00AM-12:00PM. Interment in Wildwood Cemetery in Wilmington.