Ellen Marie Louise (nee Reimer) Hamann

Daughter of Walter Reimer (deceased February 13th, 1970) and Wilhelmine (Minnie) Reimer (deceased May 15th, 1980), sister of Ingeborg (Inge) Harms (deceased November 25th, 2013)

‘Dem Herzen ewig nah’

She is survived by her partner/husband of 46 years, William (Bill) Cochrane, children; Ron Hamann (Caird Urquhart), Karen Hamann, Linda Hamann-Brown (Kevin Brown), grandchildren; Dr. Nicole Offen, Cody Offen, Dr. Brandon Hussey, Lucas Hussey (father Eric Hussey), Dean Hamann, Kerrigan Brown, Hayden Brown, Berkley Brown, Levon Hamann (mother Petra Hamann), and nephews Perry and Ralf Harms (Hamburg, Germany) along with extended families.

A special and heartfelt thanks to Lottie Phady who provided compassionate care, support, and companionship over the last 5 years of Ellen’s life.

Ellen was born in Hamburg, Germany during tumultuous times in Europe.

She lived through the war as a young girl with her sister Inge, six years her junior, always in protective tow through many harrowing experiences. Her father, Walter, moved Ellen, her sister Inge and mother Minnie from war ravaged Hamburg to Hannover and the relative safety of the rural countryside while war raged on. Post war and a return to Hamburg was a life of struggle while rebuilding their lives that contributed immensely to her character.

However, like many of the post war young generation in Europe, she sought a renewed life and moved to Canada, arriving by ship in Halifax Harbour, May 3rd, 1954 and making her way to Toronto. She first worked at Fran’s restaurant at Yonge and St. Clair, waitressing despite not knowing any English. There she met her husband to be, John Hamann who was a cook and recently out of the RCN. Shortly thereafter, they both went to work at one of the original ‘Swiss Chalet’ locations just around the corner on Yonge St. With her and John’s entrepreneurial spirit and joined by Inge (husband Willy Harms), Walter and Minnie who had come to Canada, they ventured on to their own restaurant, the ‘Two Sisters,’ three doors west of the Yonge/St. Clair corner. Children came along and Ellen & family moved back to Hamburg Germany for 5 years from 1968 – 1973, coaxed by family to work under the wings of the Harms/Reimer growing Hareico Fleischwaren.

Upon return to Toronto, Ellen and John soon divorced and she pursued a new career selling Real Estate with Royal Trust where she met fellow agent Bill Cochrane, the start of a long, prosperous, and happy relationship. With combined entrepreneurial drive they left Royal Trust to start Cardinal R/E, followed a few years later with Tanager Development, building new homes in the Yonge/Lawrence neighbourhood. Ellen was a big traveler, along with Bill, Inge, and Willy they ventured to the four corners of the world, scuba diving in Australia, skiing in the Alps, safari in South Africa, motorhomes through New Zealand, she really did it all.

Foremost, family was the preeminent focus in Ellen’s life, a distinguished quality she inherited from Walter and Minnie. She had three beautiful children and along with their families, weekends and summers were spent at Ellen and Bill’s Vandorf Estate, a place with woods to explore, a playground, tennis, basketball, swimming and importantly a tradition from her parental German roots, the ‘Sunday Family Dinner.’ Expanding the family experience, Ellen orchestrated countless family Thanksgiving and Xmas vacations for the entire clan. Deerhurst, Atlantis in Nassau, Casa de Campo (Dominican) and Costa Rica among them, culminating in the full German/Canadian family reunion Xmas in Hamburg, 2010.

Ellen lived a long, prosperous, and joyous life, filled with family and countless friends. She will be sorely missed by so many. Her counsel, experiences, companionship, and motherly support provided by her to all of us will leave memories and smiles forever.

Cremation has taken place, and she will be interned at the family plot in St. James Cemetery, Toronto.

The family plans a Celebration of Life May 11th, 2024…….of course at ‘The Vandorf Estate’. 3357 Vandorf Sd. Rd, Stouffville ON.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ThompsonFH-Aurora.com for the Hamann family.