Valerie Vivar
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ellen lately. She was my mother’s best friend and a second mother to me for so many years. My mom passed away a few months ago and I’m thinking about her life and naturally Ellen is in so many memories. I’ve been really missing Ellen’s fabulous laugh, her candy cane Christmas cookies, and her love of dogs. I still have ceramics that she helped me make in her home. When I was little, she would take me with her to the ceramic shop to buy more stock in her little Toyota car. I remember her making ceramics for her daughters and talking about what they were up to. More recently Ellen came to my Anne of Green Gables party where we wore hats and had plum pudding and raspberry cordial, not current wine. She had a generous spirit and was not afraid to give the advice you needed to hear. I miss her dearly. I imagine she and my mom are still laughing while having beverages and talking about gardening and swapping recipes. Ellen, you will always be a kindred spirit and I will remember you fondly. Love, Valerie, daughter of Pat Stumph