ELLEN LEACH (SMITH)

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ELLEN LEACH (nee SMITH) (formerly Ellen Warner) January 21, 1918 - August 21, 2013 Ellen Leach, aged 95, passed away on August 21, 2013, at the Kiwanis Care Centre in North Vancouver, BC. Ellen Brown Smith was born in Winnipeg at the end of the First World War. She grew up in the Linwood neighbourhood with her mother, her aunts Agnes (Taggy) and Hellen (Nanny), her uncle Willy, and five siblings (Art, Bob, George, Jack, and Nan). Nanny taught Ellen about cooking and Taggy taught her to sew. At home, the family played the piano, sang together and loved all things Scottish. As a girl, Ellen enjoyed Girl Guides and had the pleasure of performing a Scottish dance in front of the King and Queen of England when they visited Winnipeg in 1939. The Great Depression influenced Ellen's teen years, so she learned how to be thrifty and resourceful. A beautiful young woman, Ellen modelled for Eaton's catalogue artists who sketched models in the fashions of the day. At 21, the Second World War had begun and she watched her brothers leave home to serve overseas. A year later, Ellen married Charles Warner and moved to Matlock on Lake Winnipeg. Together they raised seven children during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. With five sons and two daughters, Ellen's household was bustling: with laundry, sewing, knitting, bread to bake, and lunches to make. Ellen defined multi-tasking: caring for babies, managing the household and helping her husband with his trap lines, bee keeping and even TV antennae installations. They worked as a team and they taught their children to value education and to give their best to each endeavour. In 1948 Ellen took in' Nanny as her health was failing. With Ellen's love, Nanny thrived and became a tremendous loving support to Ellen's children for 17 years. In addition, Ellen took in her mother-in-law and close friend, Christina. Words that describe Ellen would be creative, energetic, resilient, determined, tenacious, and practical. She loved babies and often recalled her children's funny expressions as they were growing up. Two of the things that Ellen was famous for were her short bread and her vina tarte. She also had a knack for making Christmas mornings memorable for little ones, even when budgets were tight. She had a great sense of humour and an undying spirit of adventure and curiosity. She loved to dance, have fun and was always ready to travel at a moment's notice. She was staunchly proud of all her children and would unfailingly share their latest achievements with anyone she spoke to. She was their greatest support and always their biggest fan. After 33 years, Ellen and Charlie's marriage ended. With her youngest daughter, Ellen moved back to Winnipeg. There, she worked in a women's wig shop. She also helped sons, Kurt and Gery in their startup tent design and manufacturing. Her sewing skills were very handy. A few weeks before her 60th birthday, Ellen married Bill Leach. Bill was a widower with two teenage sons, Peter and Rick. They lived in Transcona where Ellen helped Bill finish his parenting tasks. Then the two of them launched into their retirement years which included several trips and considerable socializing with Bill's friends across Canada and the U.S.A. After 20 years together, Bill died, and Ellen aged 80, headed out to the Coast where there was a cluster of four of her children. She lived in West Vancouver close to the seawall and she took up water colour painting. She exhibited her work at the Seniors' Centre and was thrilled when one of her pieces sold. She continued travelling with her children and enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. Her lasting legacy is an invocation to her progeny to "Go out and make me proud." Ellen is predeceased by: her five siblings (Robert, Arthur, Jack, George, and sister Nancy Tingey) her first husband, Charles Warner, and her second husband William Leach. Ellen is survived by her seven children (and their spouses); Karl (Marie), Kurt (Vianora), Gery (Suzanne), Doug (Frances), Rolf (Adele), Ellen (Ken), Susan Booth (Todd), two stepsons, Peter and Richard Leach, 19 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great- grandchild. A family gathering in honour of Ellen will be held at 2:30 p.m., on September 28, 2013 at the Vernon Yacht Club, 7919 Okanagan Landing Road, Vernon, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be forwarded to the BC Alzheimer's Society. For further information email: dougbwarner@mac.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 14, 2013