FLECK, Mary Ellen Fleck

Passed away from natural causes at the Ottawa General Hospital on the 10^th of February 2026 in her 92nd year. Her husband David Fleck pre-deceased her by almost 22 years.

She will be sadly missed by her sons David (Denise), Robert (Pat) and John (Wendy). She was a fun loving grandmother to Ken, Heather (Alan), Douglas (Nicole), Jason (Nicole) and Kelsey, and playful great-grandmother to Liz, Kieran, Lily, Avery, Heidi and Ayla.

Mary Ellen was very active in the Ottawa art community, both in creating and teaching art in any medium. Art was her second love, after her family.

She relished her days at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, her condo in Clearwater, Florida but most of all time at her family farm near Kazabazua, Quebec.  Her memories at the farm reached backed to pre-school age. It was there that she grew up as “tom boy” with outhouses, farm animals and pets, fishing, canoeing, hunting and skiiing. She passed these life skills and lessons on to her family.

She lived in the same house on Sharon Ave in Ottawa’s west end since 1957.  Her strong will was evidenced by the fact that she lived in her house solo for 22 years (since the passing of her dear husband David) until just a few days ago. Her strong will and positive outlook also shone through when she battled cancer several times throughout her long life.  Things to which we all might aspire.

She knew what she wanted; she created and followed her own social rules.  As an example, on her final trip abroad to see her granddaughter’s new home in Scoltland, she took Scotch with her and later informed a Scotch tasting professional in Prestwick that he was wrong on all fronts.  Just to be clear, she did know her scotch.

Mary Ellen was always inquisitive, cheerful, and ready for any adventure, whether it was another trip to the Canadian Arctic (her favourite destination), a look at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, a flight across the Atlantic in the super sonic Concord, flying with her husband David in a light plane throughout the Caribbean or a slow trip in a Land Rover on an African Safari. This was in addition to frequent trips to Europe with a focus on Hannover, Germany to visit their very close friends the Knoflers, who spent their summers in Canada with Mary Ellen and Dave.

She never said no to a social invitation. Not once. Not ever. Her moto was, “If you don’t want me, don’t invite me – because I’m going to say yes.”

At Mary Ellen’s request, there will not be a funeral. A private family celebration of life will likely take place in the summer.

Also at Mary Ellen’s request, in lieu of flowers, kindly send a donation to the Vail Visiting Professorship Endowment, which was set up by her late father Harold Vail nearly 50 years ago to support local cancer health care education. Here is a link to donate: Vail Visiting Professorship Endowment