October 16, 1949 - May 11, 2025
Born in New Westminster, BC on October 16, 1949, Ellen was the daughter of James and Dorothy (Forran) Sorley. She was the youngest of four siblings: Anne, Barbara, and Jimmy.
Ellen's family lived in Surrey. After high school, she attended Trinity Western University, transferred to UBC, and completed a Bachelor of Education degree in 1975. While studying, she lived at Crescent Beach with friends, where she met Dennis. They married in August of 1976.
Ellen taught at several elementary schools in Surrey and was passionate about lifelong learning and innovation in teaching. She took night classes in woodworking, quilting, and other arts, and brought these interests into her classroom to create projects with her students - from a giant papier-mâché whale that hung from the ceiling at Crescent Park to the quilt that her primary class made.
In 2003 Ellen completed a graduate degree in Arts in Education at SFU. She was fascinated by nature and was known for her hands-on approach in her science classes - partnering with the home school community to teach robotics, culminating in students building remotely operated underwater vehicles and demonstrating their projects in the pool at home. She was relentless in her dedication to the exploration of learning and lighting a spark in students' minds.
As a mother, Ellen's compassion and strength were unwavering. She was dedicated to caring for her family, particularly for son Daniel (1980-1989), who was born with a rare medical condition that shortened his life. Through countless trips to medical appointments, she remained strong and maintained a positive attitude. She made sure all the children were well-rounded and busy, enrolling them in diverse extracurricular activities and summer camps. She was always centered on the wellbeing of her family.
In 2009 Ellen retired from teaching and was subsequently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. She met the illness with the same positivity that she brought to everything in life, navigating the early stages by creating her own geographical boundaries of "Pleasantville" and "Not-So-Pleasantville" to help orient herself in the early stages. She never lost her adventurous spirit and made the choice to see an experience as an adventure when she got lost or forgot something.
Ellen passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025, at age 75. She is survived by husband Dennis, daughter Nicole (Alan), son Ian, and granddaughters Camille and Zoë. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. Her family thank the staff at Evergreen Baptist Care Home for their dedication and the exceptional care she received. We wish she could have enjoyed her retirement years free of illness, but we are grateful for the life she lived and the love she gave.
If Ellen touched your life, please consider making a modest donation to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada or sponsoring a child in need with WorldVision in her name.