Ellen Marie Stewart

Ellen grew up in Victoria, B.C. and she experienced coming of age during the Depression and World War Two. At age 18, Ellen entered the three-year nursing training program at St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Victoria. While still at nursing school she met Jim Stewart, her future husband, when on a picnic trip to Bowen Island, with mutual friends. They married on July 15, 1950, and moved into their home for the next 40 plus years on Fifth Avenue in New Westminster that year. Ellen continued to nurse following birth of daughter Sherri, in 1953, and up until birth of son, Davis, in 1955.

Besides raising a family, Ellen’s life focus was community involvement primarily through the United Church (Queen’s Avenue United) and the Rebekah (Oddfellows) Lodge, Beulah #5. She was active in the lodge for over 50 years and was twice Noble Grand.

Volunteer work in the community included “doing” meals on wheels, together with Jim, for over 40 years, volunteering for the Red Cross, for and equal amount of time, and being a leader of the Explorer program for girls at the church.

Ellen had a keen interest in family history and provided extensive information to J. R. Houston for his book "Numbering the Survivors - A History of the Standish Family of Ireland, Ontario and Alberta".

Jim and Ellen were avid square dancers (Royal Swingers) often travelling by motor home to provincial and national events. Following Jim’s retirement, the couple travelled extensively taking cruises in all corners of the world. They combined their love of square dancing with international travel, and danced in such places as Red Square, Tiananmen Square and at the Toyota plant in Nagoya, Japan, attended by the brother of the Emperor of Japan, who was also an avid square-dancer.

Ellen is survived by her daughter, Sherri, husband Don; son, Davis, wife Tina; and their three children in their thirties: Jon (Chartered Account), Kimberly (Surgeon, Doctor of Medicine) and Steven (Mechanical Engineer) and their spouses, respectively, Jen, Pete and Jess.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Stewart family.