Ellen Elizabeth DeVine

Ellen Elizabeth DeVine died unexpectedly on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, surrounded by family. Ellen was born in Ann Arbor on January 11, 1922, the daughter of Elizabeth Catherine Doherty DeVine and Frank Bernard DeVine. Ellen grew up in the house her family built on Seneca and attended St. Thomas Elementary School. She commuted to Sacred Heart Academy in Grosse Pointe for high school, and graduated in 1940. That fall, Ellen enrolled in Trinity College in Washington D.C. After completing her freshman year, she transferred to the University of Michigan where she enrolled in the School of Art and Design and graduated in 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in design. After graduation, Ellen joined the army and trained with the Veterans Administration’s recreation therapy program in Palo Alto, California, where she used art to help returning WWII veterans regain their fine motor coordination. Upon completion of her training, Ellen and her artist colleagues from the program took a train across the country to New Jersey, painting the scenery along the way. She was then assigned to work as an occupational therapist with veterans stationed in Germany. While in Europe, Ellen purchased a fondly-remembered Volkswagen bug convertible and skied in the Alps. Upon her return to the U. S. in the early 1950’s, Ellen worked at Mercywood Hospital, where she specialized in helping teen patients through art. In the 1970’s Ellen opened her own shop and studio in a house on Wall Street where she taught batik, weaving, and ceramics, and sold her work. She created many treasured works for her nieces and nephews through the years. Ellen was an avid golfer and won numerous titles in local tournaments, often competing with her older sister and great friend, Catherine, for top honors. Ellen was a lifelong member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and a member of the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing and the Washtenaw Recreation Center. She volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Society Shop and, in many ways, spent her life serving others. Ellen enjoyed long daily walks, drawing and painting, her beautiful view, winters in Jekyll Island, Michigan basketball and weekly trips to the Washtenaw Rec Center, where she lifted weights. She was predeceased by sister, Catherine, and brothers, Edmond and John, and 2 nephews, John and Francis. She will be greatly missed by her surviving sister, Beatrice DeVine Kennedy, and her sister-in-law, Marnee Burke DeVine. Her nieces and nephews and their spouses and families are so proud of her, and will always remember her as a great, artistic, fun, interesting, loving, devout and thoughtful aunt and friend. Visitation is at Muehlig Funeral Chapel on Thursday, April 24, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30. Additional visitation on Friday, April 25, 2014 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church from 9-10 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 10. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital or the Marnee and John DeVine Foundation of Catholic Social Services.