Ellen died as she lived, peacefully with elegance at her home on April 22, 2021.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to the late Honourable Joseph Thorarinn Thorson and Alleen Scarth Thorson, she was predeceased by her husband Eric Thomas Lahey and her brother the Honourable Donald Scarth Thorson.
Ellen is survived by her sister Gail Thorson (Timothy Macklem) London, UK, her sister-in-law Jane Thorson (Toronto) and her children Brian (Susan Smart), Leslie (Michael Hennessy), Roderick (Carol Joynt), Janice (Lars Eriksen 1941-2009) Denmark, Catherine Merrill, James (Pym Buitenhuis) Toronto, Patrick (Tiziana Cogotti) Florida, and Kristin Lahey. In addition, Ellen is survived by her grandchildren; Elizabeth Nicholds, Pamela Short, Allison Smeaton, Jennifer Lahey, Sonny Lahey, Matthew Lahey, Kathryn Gibbons, Brendan Hennessy, Samantha Lahey, Joseph and Jesse Seabrooke, Sarah Merrill, and Victoria Lahey and her 19 great-grandchildren.
Ellen graduated from the University of Manitoba and then enlisted in the RCAF (WD) during World War II. At war’s end she was discharged having achieved the rank of Section Officer. After the war, Ellen pursued a career in public relations, advertising and real estate. From 1967 through 1987 she was Consul General for Iceland. A past president of the Maycourt Club of Ottawa, a lover of books, an avid gardener, an inveterate hobbyist, she loved watercolours, needlepoint, knitting and design. Most of all she loved her cherished family and friends during a long and happy lifetime in Ottawa and in her second home, Barbados.
At Ellen’s request there will be no funeral. A private family service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the May Court Club of Ottawa.
Special thanks to Dr. Helga Ehrlich at Bruyere Family Medicine Centre for her incredible care and compassion and to Theresa Quiton who attended Mum so devotedly over the past year and-a-half.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ellen Lahey Thursday April 22nd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario