Mr. Martin John Ellis-White

On Saturday, June 26 the Abbotsford Police Department lost a member of its family when Constable Martin Ellis-White passed away after a courageous fight with cancer. He was 48 years old. Martin served his entire law enforcement career with the Abbotsford Police.

He worked as a patrol officer and as a school liaison in his 8 plus years with us. Martin cared about people; he listened intently and gave respect generously. That is why he made a great policeman and contributed so much to our family.

Martin was very attached to the City of Abbotsford. He not only worked for the police department but he lived in this community with his wife Rosie. In many ways he epitomized the best characteristics and advantages of municipal policing in that he served the community he had the most meaningful connections to. Those connections included not just friends and family but so many of the staff and students that Martin worked with in the schools and the many citizens he helped throughout his career. As much as the Abbotsford Police Department would like to claim exclusive rights to Martin, we can’t. He meant too much to too many people.

Martin was predeceased by his father John and his beloved dog Silken. He is survived by the love of his life, Rosie, his mother Janis, his siblings Colin and Susan, sister in-law Anna, nephews John and Matthew and niece Jennifer. Martin will be sadly missed by his lifelong friend Dave with whom he shared many experiences and adventures.

In the last two years of his life, Martin received amazing care from Dr. Sasha Smiljanic (oncologist) and his outstanding team at the Cancer Centre at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. We are all grateful that the work of the medical staff and the level of care Martin received gave us this precious time with him.

On Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm the Abbotsford Police Department and Martin`s friends and family will be celebrating his life at the Sevenoaks Alliance Church at 2575 Gladwin Road. The public is welcomed to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Research Society would be appreciated.

Arrangements under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home, Langley, BC.