We Remember
STEWART, Ellen Louise (nee Sweeney)
November 16, 1934 — June 20, 2014
Born in Sweetgrass, Montana to Leo and Gwendoline Sweeney. Ellen grew up in Calgary, Alberta. A gifted athlete, she was a star of the Glencoe Figure Skating Club. She attended Montana State University in Missoula, Montana and graduated with a degree in Education and Music. On June 21, 1958 she married Gerald N. Stewart (Gerry) and died in his arms on the eve of their 56th wedding anniversary.
Ellen took pride in her Texas roots but nothing made her more proud than her seven children: Michael Stewart of Chilliwack, Tamara Johnson (David) of Bellingham, Patrick Stewart of Kelowna, Brenda Ganley (Mark) of Bellevue, Sandra McKee (Phil) of Bellingham, Todd Stewart of Kauai and Pamela Paulhus (Patrick) of Kelowna. Then of course, there were her grandchildren: Brett, Ami, Kevin, Matthew, Sarah, Liam, Willick, Shyanne, Samuel, Graden and Taylor who brought her immeasurable joy. She was their biggest cheerleader and fiercest supporter.
She selflessly nurtured and cared for so many. She felt blessed to have family that were friends and friends that were like family. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Gwendoline Sweeney, her brother John Sweeney, her sister Gwendoline Entorf and her half-brother J.B. Sweeney and half-sister Patsy Weber. She is survived by her sisters Mary Brower of Round Up, Montana, Marguerite Knight of Dallas, Texas and many nieces and nephews.
Prayers will be recited on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 7:00 pm with a Mass on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 11:00 am both at St. Charles Garnier Parish, 3645 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna, BC
In lieu of flowers, please take time to do a small random act of kindness in your community in memory of Mom/Ellen. For those wishing to send a condolence, photos or share memories, may do so by scrolling down this page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Prayer Service
Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Service
Friday, June 27, 2014 at 11:00 am
Location
St. Charles Garnier Parish
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Take time to do a small random act of kindness in your community
Service Information
Service Details
The prayer service for STEWART, Ellen Louise (nee Sweeney) is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 7:00 pm at located at 3645 Benvoulin Road , Kelowna, BC.
The service for STEWART, Ellen Louise (nee Sweeney) is scheduled for Friday, June 27, 2014 at 11:00 am . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
St. Charles Garnier Parish
3645 Benvoulin Road Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
Our heart-filled thoughts are with you all during this time. I have many wonderful memories of your mom driving us all to skating for those 6 am practices. She was such a “huge fan and supporter” of all you kids. A big smile comes to my face, thinking of the fun times as kids at the Stewart home.Bless you all……
Dear Stewart Family,
I was so saddened to hear the news of Ellen’s passing, and offer my sincere condolences on the loss of your wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grandma. One of my fondest memories of Ellen happened when Sandra and I were about 8 years old. We were out in the back yard at Hobson Road, and having had no experience with golfing, I didn’t realize that I should get out of the way before Sandra swung a club. It hit me square in the jaw, resulting in shrieks and tears from me. After yelling for Gerry to check that I was ok, Ellen gave me hug, wiped my tears, smiled and said “ok kiddo, now you know to get out of the way when someone picks up a big stick and starts swinging!” I still have the “dent” in my left cheek which I fondly refer to as “my Stewart dimple”. Other life lessons I learned from Ellen which I’ve passed on to my children and grandson include: not slouching; not letting pancake syrup run down your knife because it makes the table sticky; and when it’s Saturday morning chore time, it doesn’t matter that you don’t live here – if you slept here last night, you’re family..so get cleaning! Thank you Ellen for always making me feel a part of your family. You were a beautiful, loving and caring lady, and your life lessons will live on in the many generations of lives you touched. Rest in peace, dear lady. You will be greatly missed, but always remembered.
Ellen was such a special lady and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Our sincere sympathy to Gerry and all of her family.
Paul and Deirdre Robinson
Dr. Stewart, Mike, Tami, Pat, Brenda, Sandra, Todd and Pam,
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs. Stewart who was without peer when it came to the amount of time spent in arenas, gymnasiums and sports fields supporting all of her athletically gifted kids…she was the most avid cheerleader in town. I will be out of town, so unfortunately I will be unable to attend the service and celebration of a life well lived and a person who touched and had a positive influence on so many…God Bless you Mrs.Stewart…you will be greatly missed. Thinking of you all.
Always a smile and a wonderful laugh are two of my happy memories of Ellen from my time at Glenmore. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy.
To All the Stewarts:)
Your mom was loved and will be missed. She was the number one fan of you all and loved you all so much. With 7 kids I don’t know how she managed to be at so many games cheering, and to always having something delicious baking/cooking in the ovens. OMG she even ironed t-shirts! She really did have eyes in the back of her head, and an ability to appear whenever we were about to do something not so bright. I was treated like one of the family ie sent to my room and yelled at, which I recall enjoying, because I thought I belonged to this big, colorful family. I remember her teaching Sandra and I how to “walk like ladies”, once we had secured grad dates:). The old school way with books on the head. They don’t make moms like Ellen anymore! She was loved and she will be missed, but she will always be in our hearts.
I can’t remember ever running into Ellen when there was not motherly advice and a big smile- always positive, and always caring. Perhaps that is why she was the matriarch of such an amazing “clan”.
Gerry and family, may you find joy as you celebrate the life of this wonderful lady.
love Gail
Dear Family and Friends of Ellen,
It is with great sadness that I write this for Ellen. My thoughts are flying in so many different directions and my heart bleeds……. Ellen was so instrumental in all of our lives. She guided, inspired, comforted, nurtured, and encouraged just about everyone she met on her journey…..an angel.
She was so funny and entertaining… she taught me how to play tennis…. yelling from her couch, always had Nanimo Bars prepared in the bake center, cheered the loudest at sports games ( which made us all feel stronger and more confident) , always welcome for breakfast, lunch or dinner ( ready in a snap), gave rides to about every kid at Immaculata, and ALWAYS with a nurturing , kind , giving spirit.
Her Christian advice, her energy, and her spontaneous generosity to a remarkable number of people who were lucky enough to have been blessed with her presence in their lives will surely be missed. She embraced me as one of her own. She loved us all very much.
At this difficult, trying time I pray the Lord Bless; Gerry, Mike, Tami, Pat, Brenda, Sandra, Todd and Pamela to BLESS each of them with the strength that they will need to carry on…. LIFT their hearts, and keep on living a life that Ellen would have been proud of.
My mother and father (Bill and Sylvia Sullivan) and all my brothers and sisters also send their sincere condolences and continued prayers for Ellen and each of you.
Goodbye Ellen….Eternal Rest and Peace in Paradise
Love you with all my heart, Peggy Sullivan
Dear Stewart Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Aunt Ellen was a very special lady to all of us. I will miss all the stories of her and her sisters and brother growing up in Calgary and the adventures they had. We will miss her dearly.
Our heartfelt condolences to the family of a great Lady
John, Heidi, JP, and Joe Entorf
I am so sorry to hear of Ellen’s passing. She, and you, Gerry were such wonderful neighbours to our family when you lived next door so many years ago. My heart goes out to all of the family. Rest in peace, Ellen, and I will never forget how much you helped me through my teenage years!
To Gerry and family. On behalf of the Kelowna Golf and C.C., Monday Senior Men – we extend our deepest condolences to you on the passing of Ellen.
Dear Gerry and Stewart Family,
We are so sorry to hear of Ellen’s passing. We fondly remember her kind and generous welcome to Kelowna and all her help getting us settled. She made it so easy to pick this place to work and raise our kids.
We wish you all the best.
To Pam and family,
My heart goes out to you all. Your mom was a avid supporter of her kids and in extension, she was also that to many of us who joined you in sports and activities. I can still hear her cheering for us on the soccer and field hockey sidelines. She will be missed but what wonderful memories you all have to cherish. I will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Dear Pam, Patrick, Graden and Taylor and family
So sorry to hear about your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Carla & Brian Macfarlane
Dr. Stewart and family my heart is with you in your time of grief. Mrs. Stewart was a beautiful person and I will miss her dearly. God opened his loving arms to give her rest. You were her. life and dreams
The first words spoken to me by Ellen, were “what do you like for breakfast?”.
And of course She made everything that I mentioned!
She was tough to go up against and I was a little slow to figure that out. I did learn quickly that She was a Woman of incredible good will as well as a Woman with incredible strong will with endless love. My heart is with you all, I am sorry I cannot be there.
Gerald & all the Stewart family . . . So saddened when Brenda called about her mom’s passing. So many good memories of all Ellen & all the Stewart’s during the OKM days. Cherish your memories & celebrate all the beautiful times you shared. You’re in our prayers as you mourn your loss.
To all the Stewarts,
When I think of Mrs. Stewart, I think of her wonderful sense of humour, her strong faith, her unwavering friendship with my mom and her pride in her family. I have many wonderful memories of visits by pools, track meet picnics, and holidays our families spent together (New years Eves, New Zealand). I still treasure and use recipes and knitting patterns she was happy to share with me. Please know that I share in your grief and that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
A wonderful celebration of life for Ellen! You all did a fantastic job honoring your Mother and Wife. She will live on in each of you and I feel blessed to have had a small piece of what she shared with so many of you. So……in the words of Doug….GOD BLESS ELLEN!
To Gerry & the Stewart family
I am thankful that we were able to share in the celebration of Ellen’s life and saddened to have to say goodbye to such a beautiful spirit.
Though my relationship to Ellen was somewhat distant, (being one of Tami’s many, many in-laws) and our visits were far too few, she always made me feel that I was very special to her. She would always greet me with great enthusiasm, calling me out by name with her big beautiful smile, she would take my hands and hold them with both of hers, and make me feel like I was the only person in the room (in what was always a house full).
My heart aches, but when I close my eyes and picture her, I see her smiling.
God Bless you Gerry & the Stewart family. I pray you all find peace and comfort in knowing what a special woman your wife & mother was and know that the memories she left in the many lives she touched will stay forever in our hearts.
God has called His child home and now she is dancing with the angels.
Dear Dr. Stewart and Family,
I still go by the Hobson House and think of the Legendary Stewart family. I know, from stories told by Dougie and Mich, how Ellen was the Mom to everyone. She was loving, nuturing, and funny with a big, generous spirit. I am thinking of you all. I know you have many sweet memories of times with your mom. That’s what we hold on to. Love, Joanne and Syl
Dear Stewart family,
Ellen Stewart was a mom to so many, myself and my family included. Always there with a word of support or encouragement, never letting anyone be left behind. When we arrived to Sunny Beach for those very special summer vacations filled with anticipation of seeing you all, she would often have a meal waiting for us in our cabin…once even a full turkey dinner! Her generosity and thoughtfulness was always in the forefront….along with her big laugh. Ellen has passed on her love of motherhood to all the moms (and dads) in your family. Spending this past weekend with you, it is evident that you are carrying on with raising your families in the spirit of Ellen. We will miss her dearly, and always hold her memory close in our hearts.
Gerry and Family
We went to mass in Black Diamond today July 20th and visited with Betty Mercier. We were so surprised to learn of Ellen’s passing and so sorry. I am sure that the entire family is unaware and will pass along the sad news. Wishing you God’s blessing of strength and love.
Wayne and Susan Stewart, Okotoks