Ellen Hadorn-Russell

Sarah Ellen Foster Hadorn Russell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on August 6, 2014. She is preceded in death by her parents; Viva and Cecil Foster and her stepfather, Alvis Blackburn. Ellen was born June 24, 1934 in Giles County, Tenn. She grew up in the Detroit area. She graduated from Lincoln Park High school. She married Rene Hadorn in 1960 and they moved to Phoenix, Arizona. They had two children, Jacqueline (Patrick) and Alain (Margaret). She later married James A. Russell and they have been married for 24 years. She gained three more children; James, Kathy and John. Ellen has four grandchildren; Nicholas and Zachary Hadorn and Clayton and Jamie Kinahan. She has many step-grand and great – grandchildren. Ellen was vivacious and quick to smile. Always a lady, she had a style and class that set her apart. She worked for American and Frontier airlines after high school. She and Rene owned a printing company for several years. She later worked as an executive secretary for Imperial Lithographics. She was involved in her children’s school as PTA president and ever present cheerleader. She was an officer in Soroptimist and enjoyed being involved in the community, especially the Arizona Town Hall. She was always generous in both her time and material belongings. She showed this as she cared for her mother in the last years of her life. She was renowned for her gourmet cooking and loved to entertain. She was very creative and enjoyed the arts, working as a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum. After retiring she spent much of her time quilting. Her family is the recipient of many of her gorgeous works of art. She enjoyed the mountains of her beautiful backyard and loved to feed the animals that frequented it. Her greatest joy was her family. She loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. We will miss her everyday with all of our hearts. Services will be held at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary on Friday, August 8, 2014. A viewing will be held at 10:00 am with the service following at 11:00