It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Ella Jean Williams, on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at the QEII Hospital, with family at her side, at the age of 83 years.

Ella leaves to cherish her memory her children: George (Nellie) Williams, Allan Williams (Teena Shaw), Susan Williams (Harvey Menard) and Sandra Williams; seven grandchildren: Carolyn and Tony McAffee (Anthony and Mitchell), Ivy Williams and Wyatt Knopp, Anna Williams, Samuel and Nikole Menard (Jade and Jasmine), Matthew Menard, Riley Forbes, and Sawyer Forbes; nephew Terry (Jacqueline) Hunt; cousin Alice Switzer; and two sisters in-law, Elizabeth Williams and Patricia Williams.

Ella was predeceased by her beloved husband Kenneth Mark Williams, loving brother, William Hunt, parents Alice McNeil and Allan Hunt, and son in-law Sheldon Forbes.

Our beautiful Mom was born in Calgary during the Great Depression. Times were tough and before the onset of WWII, Mom and her older brother Bill moved east to live with family in Oshawa and Ottawa, and back to Calgary.

During their younger years, Mom and Bill discovered what would become their lifelong and shared passion for films of the Golden Age. Bill was the projectionist, showing movies to friends, family, neighbors, and Mom the actress understudy.

On special occasions, Mom brought to life for us many Golden Age actresses with her entertaining impersonations. Dad said he knew he would marry Mom the first time he saw her, and they were married for almost 64 years.

Mom took great care of us when we were kids and put up with all our nonsense, and Dad’s, to the best of her abilities. When Christmas approached, the kitchen became her homemade cookie and candy factory. We had no idea how lucky we were back then, but we had the best Mom we could have wished for.

Mom loved to learn and always had a project on the go, whether it was painting, drawing, sewing, knitting, crocheting, crafts of all kinds, cooking, making a beautiful wedding cake from scratch, writing, learning to type on a typewriter and typing essays, or just watching an old film or reading a good book. She took many courses, taught us what she learned and we all followed suit in our own unique way.

Mom was Dad’s right-hand woman and was always there alongside him in whatever task or trial they faced together. Mom helped Dad deliver Meals on Wheels and volunteered at The Post in Medicine Hat for many years. Mom and Dad enjoyed socializing and playing crib with friends at the Veiner Centre and Mom enjoyed skunking Dad on occasion too.

Mom was gracious, loving, kind, thoughtful, strong, non-judgmental and always had a twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes. She maintained her savvy wit and kept us laughing and smiling with her quips and comebacks to the end. We know one thing for sure, we were all deeply loved by our dear, sweet little Mom, Mother In-law, Grandma, Great-Grandma and Aunt. We love you and we miss you Mom and Dad, rest in peace together now, with generations passed.

Our family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff of the Medicine Hat Hospital and Home Care and the QEII Hospital and Home Care. A special thanks to Glen Sletvold and Samantha Brimage for their thoughtful care and kindness to our Mom for many years. A truly special and heartfelt thank you to Susan and Harvey, who took excellent care of Mom and spoiled her with gourmet cooking, love, hugs, laughter and the joyful pitter patter of great-grandchildren in their loving home for the last year and half of Mom’s life.

A private interment will be held at Queen’s Park Cemetery in Calgary, followed by a family gathering.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your local SPCA (12220-104 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 8A8). Mom, like Dad, had a special place in her heart for all creatures great and small.