Ella Rea (nee Riddell) passed away peacefully at her residence in Morgan Place in White Rock on Wednesday evening, February 18, 2004 at the age of 91 years. She was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband Sydney in 1972, her only son Alan in 1998 and her sister, Molly, in 1997. She has a brother Ed Riddell who is 90 years old and still resides in Chopwell, a district of Newcastle-upon Tyne, England.
Ella was born on April 29, 1912 in Chathill, England, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne was raised and married there. She worked for 40 years at Smythe's Confectioners, where she made a large circle of friends. She loved dealing with the public. After the death of her husband in 1972, Ella immigrated to Canada in 1980 to live with her son and his family. She was an energetic lady until she suffered a stroke in 1995. She loved shopping and sightseeing and playing bingo. She never drove a car, but that didn't restrict her travels. In her spare time, Ella loved knitting sweaters and slippers not only for family members but for many friends as well. If anyone came to visit her with no slippers, they certainly left with a pair. She was especially fond of her two grandsons, Mark and Donald who were very fortunate to grow up with her around.
Ella leaves to mourn her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Amos-MacLeod of White Rock, her grandsons, Mark of Vancouver and Donald, currently furthering studies in Montana, her brother Ed (Jane) Riddell in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, two nephews Dave (Terri) and Dennis (Ena) and their families.
Memorial Services were held at Victory Funeral Chapel on Saturday, February 21, 2004.