Violet Louise (Ellen) Lee

Violet Louise “Ellen” Lee was born on December 26, 1928 to Violet & George Lee in Vancouver, B.C. Her only sibling, Gail, was born 9 years later. In 1938 the family moved to Port Alberni. In 1944, when she was 16, her dad George was killed in a lumber mill accident. Ellen left school and became a switchboard operator for B.C. Tel to help her family out financially. (School mates Wally Knudsen and Eric Christiansen later became her spiritual brothers.)

In 1947, Ellen was married at age 18. She quickly became a mother to Terry, Tim, Jacquie, & Judy (4 children in 5 years). Eleven years later came Debbie. (Debbie says, ”They saved the best to the last”!) She was an awesome Mom in so many ways. Most dinners were a big meal of moose or deer meat, chicken or salmon, with potatoes, a veggie, and dessert. She became well known for her scalloped potatoes, shortbread cookies, and her chocolate drop cookies. Once a week, Mom baked for the week, making pies, cakes & cookies. Every summer, we helped Mom can fruit. Mom sewed her own clothes, as well as clothes for her girls. When grandchildren came along she knit most of them a baby blanket. She had so many homemaking skills that kept us healthy, safe, cared for and loved.

Family and friends came second only to her unwavering love for her Creator, Jehovah. Mom was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1952. During her 63 years of faithful service, the highlights of Mom’s life included attending both the 1953 and 1958 eight-day International Conventions in New York City and Pasadena, California in 1963.

Even with such a busy life, Mom was an avid reader, student, and teacher of the Bible. She and ‘the sisters’ of the Alberni Congregation swapped babysitting days so they could maintain their goals in the ‘field ministry’. Throughout our childhood and adolescent years Mom made a point of ‘vacation pioneering’, achieving the then 75 hour goal recommended for what we now call ‘auxiliary pioneering’. She did this at least once a year and sometimes more with us “in tow”. Mom was a good example for ‘us kids’. She was an active ‘publisher of the good news’ right up until her death.

As a keen student of the Bible, Mom at times with just one scripture, helped her students have a “life altering moment”, changing the course of their life and worship. Over the years Mom studied the Bible with, and became a mentor to, many people. Some of you are those studies, or are the spiritual children or grandchildren of them.

In 1970, the family moved to Victoria and then in 1973 up the Island to Mill Bay. There they became part of the Duncan Congregation. In 1974, with much encouragement from Mom and her sister Gail, the two daughters were thrilled to welcome their mother, Violet Lee, then 70 years old, as their spiritual sister.

Mom and Debbie started a new life together in 1980, moving to Oahu, Hawaii, and becoming part of the Waialae Congregation. There they enjoyed many new friends in the Congregation, like Margaret Keane, the “Big Eye’s” artist and her daughter Jane.

In 1983 they moved to Port Coquitlam’s Mary Hill Congregation to be near more family and grandchildren. They then moved to Pitt Meadows in 1987.

Missing Vancouver Island and ‘long time’ friends there, Mom moved to Nanaimo in 1996. In 1999, Judy, Michelle, Danielle and Mom rented a duplex, enjoying 13 years there together.

In 2012, Mom returned to Port Coquitlam, and to the Mary Hill Congregation, renting a beautiful lower suite from Shawn and Ginette Ray. It was her little paradise.

Even in her mid 80’s Mom still cherished and maintained her spiritual routine of meetings and service. She was appreciated and loved by every Congregation she was a part of.

Mom’s many falls and her failing voice led us to many doctors and finally, after three years, to the real diagnosis in August 2015 of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Mom spent her last 4 months at McKenney Creek Hospice in Maple Ridge. The nurses and volunteers there treated her wonderfully, caring for her with love and respect right till the end. Mom was grateful to them in return, as shown by her expressions of appreciation, her cheerfulness and her warm smile.

Mom now rests in the safest place of all - Jehovah’s memory. We all look forward to seeing her again in the paradise restored on earth that God has promised. For her, it is just this “one more sleep”.

There will be a Memorial Service held in Maple Ridge at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located at 11770 West Street, Maple Ridge, BC on Saturday February 6, 2016 at 2:00pm.

And for Ellen's "Islander" friends a second Memorial Service in Nanaimo at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located at 2114 Meredith Road, Nanaimo, BC on Saturday February 13, 2016 at 2:00pm.