It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ellen (Appleyard) Howrish at the age of 79. A beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Ellen passed away quietly on March 12, 2021.
She leaves behind a husband Emil Stan Howrish, daughter Cheryl Donoghue (Phil), son Steven Howrish (Todd Sikorski), and son Marcel Howrish (Colette Fluet-Howrish). Ellen is also survived by her two brothers, Reg Appleyard and Fred Appleyard. Also grieving her passing are grandchildren James and Ben (Cheryl and Phil) and Kye, Luke and Niva (Marcel and Colette).
Ellen Appleyard was born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on October 25, 1941, the first daughter of Irene Gladys Appleyard and Noel Wilfred Appleyard. She was a sister to older brother Reg and younger brother Fred. The Appleyard family moved to Alberta when Ellen was very young. After high school, Ellen went to the University of Alberta, taking pre-med sciences. She had ambitions to be a doctor, but when that did not work out for her, she decided to take a year off and tour in Europe. When she got back, she decided to take an after-degree in Education, majoring in Special Education. During one of the summer breaks, she worked at CIL and that is where she met Stan. She married him in 1964. Ellen got her certificate in teaching and worked at Mill Creek School, teaching the mentally and physically challenged.
Ellen later worked as a dental assistant as the family started to grow. Their first child, Cheryl, arrived in 1968, followed by Steven in 1969 and Marcel in 1972. The family settled into a comfortable life in the Capilano area of Edmonton and shared many wonderful memories of trips to the Howrish family farm in Holden and longer trips to Kelowna, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Hawaii, and Florida.
Ellen was a proud member of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), serving as a board member for many years in the 1990s and supporting the rights of LGBTQ people. Ellen was a breast cancer survivor (twice) and late in life, learned that she had CADASIL, a rare hereditary stroke disorder, which started to affect her memory, mobility, and balance.
Ellen will be remembered as a kind and gentle woman and a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed nature and loved to be outdoors, hiking, walking, and gardening in her yard. She also loved the arts and spent many years painting and enjoying the performing arts in Edmonton. The performances she enjoyed the most were those when her grandchildren would perform their music for her.
Ellen spent the past year and a half at the Kipnes Centre in Edmonton, and the family would like to thank the wonderful staff for all of their support and care.
A Celebration of Ellen’s life will be held on April 17, 2021 and will be streamed online. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in her memory to one of the following charities:
CADASIL Together We Have Hope Non-Profit Organization
3605 Monument Drive
Round Rock, Texas 78681
CureCADASIL
10 Schalks Crossing Road
Suite 501A-133
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Serenity Funeral Service – South Edmonton, (780)450-0101
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de HOWRISH Ellen March 12 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta