Ellen passed away peacefully on October 5, 2016, shortly after her 87th birthday, in Vancouver, Canada. She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Joseph Kenkel (Ann Klug); and grand-daughters, Ursula, Heidi, and Anneliese in Ontario; daughter, Eileen Kenkel (Ed Lee); grandson, Michael in Vancouver; daughter and daughter-in-law, Lisa Kenkel and Melanie Mahtani in California; and family and friends across the US and Canada.

Ellen graduated from St Anthony High School, Washington, DC and St Joseph College Class of 1952, Emmitsburg, MC. Ellen was a devoted teacher in the Carleton Roman Catholic School Board in Ottawa, with a passion for special education. Her kindness and unconditional acceptance helped those with the greatest challenges to learn and grow and to feel at home in the school community. She moved to Vancouver after her retirement and became an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. Ellen will be remembered for her love of sunsets, for her dislike of alarm clocks and for the tremendous love and kindness she shared with her family and all who knew her.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the caring team at St John's Hospice for their kindness and extra servings of lemon squares.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Order of St. John Palliative Care Foundation, #2200, 1055 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1K8 or to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive St, St Louis, MO 63108-2622.