ELKEN, Ella Helen - April, 1916 – November, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ella Helen Elken, at the Ehatare Estonian Retirement Home.
Born in Kuusalu (near Tallinn) in Estonia.
She studied Pharmacy at University of Tartu in Estonia. Married Jüri Elken on March 1, 1941.
During World War ll, in 1944, fled by small fishing boat across Baltic Sea to Sweden, as bombs were dropping. November 1950, she came by boat to Quebec City and afterwards to Toronto, where she lived the rest of her life. She was a great downhill skier, super photographer, avid gardener (both at home at her cottage on Six Mile Lake), a keen bird watcher and she had many, many more interests and hobbies. April 2017 was her 100th birthday, with several celebrations in her honour, including one at her favourite sorority, Filiae Patriae.
Left to mourn her are relatives and friends in Canada and Europe. She was a loving wife to Jüri, a loving mother to Ann, a loving grandmother to Kristina Liis and a loving mother-in-law to Tõnu.
Helen had a long and well lived life. We will really miss her a lot.