Obituary of Blanche Begin Ellis

Blanche Begin Ellis, who died on April 21, 2013 at Inland Hospital in Waterville, Maine at the age of 102 believed in the value of hard work and plain speaking. Loved by her family and friends, she was a strong and influential presence in their lives. She will be dearly missed by her children and family. She was born on July 23, 1910 in Winslow Saint J., Provence of Quebec, Canada. Blanche was one of eleven children and the oldest daughter of Philippe Begin and Fidelise Dulac Begin. Her parents moved their family to the United States when she was a young girl. She left school at an early age to help her parents support their large family. Predeceased by her husband Donald Edward Ellis of Oakland, Maine and daughter-in-law Diane Ellis of Norridgewock, Maine. Her greatest accomplishment was raising five wonderful children, originally living in Oakland, and eventually settling in Skowhegan. While she had various jobs throughout her life she spent most of her working years as a dietary assistant at the Redington-Fairview hospital in Skowhegan. She is survived by her loving children, Raymond Ellis and wife Lynn of Oakland, Maine, Claudette Lagasse and husband Donald of Killingworth, CT., Patricia Ellis and husband Robert Surdam Jr. of New York, N.Y., Robert Ellis and wife Marcia of Chicago, Illinois, Larry Ellis of Norridgewock, Maine. Also her grandchildren, Duane Ellis, Gary Ellis, Libby Lowe, Daphne Lagasse, Mark Lagasse, Dorothy DeCaprio, Marie Lagasse, Arden Surdam, Corynn Ellis, and Marissa Ellis. Her great grandchildren, Christopher Ellis, Ashley Ellis, Amanda Rancour, Jacob Ellis, Nicholas Ellis, Emma DeCaprio, Kaleigh DeCaprio, and her caring sister Priscilla Hamlin. She will be remembered fondly by all her family and friends A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 3rd at 11AM at the Notre Dame Church, 112 Silver Street in Waterville. There will be a reception following the service in the church hall from 12 - 2PM.