Ellen Krisby

ELLEN (CHAHLEY) KRISBY June 6, 1921 to December 16, 2018 died peacefully in Richmond, British Columbia after a long illness. Ellen was the last−surviving and youngest child of three born to Ukrainian parents George (1859−1945) and Anna (Huculiak) Chahley (1878−1972). She was predeceased by her loving sisters Katherine Reeder (1914−1978) and Mary Johnston (1916−1967). Ellen’s parents were recruited by the Laurier government from Toporiwtsi, Bukovina, with others from the Ukraine, to immigrate and build the Canadian West. Ellen’s parents settled near Smoky Lake, Alberta, where Ellen was born. At an early age she acted as translator for the RCMP, studied for a teaching degree while working as a Librarian, and taught school there in the 1940s. Ellen moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she continued teaching and met and married her Estonian husband John Krisby (1914−1994) in 1948. John and Ellen were happily married for forty−six years. Ellen is survived by her devoted son Dennis John and daughter Mary Lynne Jewell. To her Sorrow Ellen did not have grandchildren but in the last years of her life she established a bond with her great−great grandniece Tesla Taylor. Ellen loved to travel and had a gift for friendship. A loving extended family and many friends around the world also survive her. Ellen was a committed Roman Catholic who converted from the Russian Orthodox Church before her marriage and served for more than 70 years as a dedicated parishioner, a long−standing member of the church choir, president of the Legion of Mary, and many other volunteer duties she was always happy to take on. Ellen was the family matriarch and held us all together with her unsurpassed dinners, love and appreciation. Funeral service will take place at St. Monica’s Parish Church, 12011 Woodhead Road, Richmond, British Columbia on January 8, 2019 at 11:00 am followed by a reception in the church hall. Internment will follow the reception at Ocean View Funeral Home, 4000 Imperial St., Burnaby. Please make any donations to your charity of choice.