Ellen Christena Alcock was born at Ogilvie, Manitoba on March 25, 1918, to parents George & Margaret Alcock. At the age of 9 her family moved to Sylvania, SK. She lived there until the age of 13 & after her mom’s death her family moved to a homestead at Snowden, SK.  Along with her sister Flora, they did all the cooking and    household chores for her dad & 4 brothers. Her brother Russel taught her how to bake bread. He told her the more you knead (need) it the better it is. When she was 24, she enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WW2. She worked as a cook for the men in training at Paulson, Man. and then Pat Bay, B.C. On Oct. 18, 1945 as the war ended, she returned to Snowden.  She continued to care for her father until she met and married Hjalmar Swanson on Nov.10.1949. They moved to their new house at the farm near Fairy Glen. She lived on the farm for 40 years and raised their three children: Karen, Morley and Rayleen. She belonged to the Fairy Glen Ladies Club, the Lutheran Church ladies, and liked to curl in Fairy Glen. In 1989 they moved to Melfort. During this time, they did a little traveling to the U.S., Sweden and B.C. and Ont.   After the death of her husband in 2010 she lived alone in her house until the age of 104. She then moved to Nirvana Assisted Living and then Parkland Place until her passing at the age of 106.

Mom’s hands were always busy. She worked hard and took pride in her garden and yard and house. The caragana hedge was always cut to perfection. She loved her flowers. She had many skills and loved to cook and bake. The cookie jar was always full. Unexpected company at mealtime were always invited to stay and she would have plenty of food on the table. If dad was in the field regular trips out to the field with lunch and coffee were a part of her day. She canned meat, vegetables and fruit- picking the berries herself. She knitted, sewed, quilted,  refinished many pieces of furniture, and was very crafty at ideas she saw and had to try. She enjoyed reading books, and baking in her later years and even tried making jam when she was 103.  Her family was very important to her, and she always took an interest in what the grandchildren and great grandchildren were doing. She held Christmas at her house with everyone there, into her 90’s. She was quiet and kind but very strong. Her mind was sharp until the end. She loved her homecare staff that helped her at home and later Nirvana and later she had special people to care for her at Parkland that she adored.

Ellen was predeceased by her husband Hjalmar; her parents George & Margaret Alcock;   brothers & spouses: Jack (Myra), Russel (Alice), Maurice (Dorothy), William; sister Flora (Harold) Johnson; Mother and Father-in-law Ingeborg & Olaf Swanson: Brothers / sisters-in-law: Harry (Aster), Mary (Elof), Milner (Jennie), Arthur (Hilma)

Ellen is survived by her daughters: Karen (Bob) Hiebert, Rayleen Willerton; her son Morley (Susan) Swanson; Grandchildren: Kari (Blake), Rob (Bobbi), Christina (Chris), James (Tracie), Amie, Jamie (Steve), MacKenzie, Kaitlyn (Oscar), and Emi and 14 great  grandchildren.

Ellen’s Funeral Service will be held from the Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church, Bagley, SK on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM.  The interment will follow in the Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to the Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church, or to the Parkland Place Residents’ Council, Melfort.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online guestbook at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort. (306) 752-3838

 

• Date : 2024-11-09
• Location : Melfort, SK