Obituary of Ellen Julia Ramsey
With deep sadness, her family announces that Ellen Julia Ramsey, 69, died suddenly on October 15, 2023, in New Liskeard, Ontario, where she had recently moved from North Bay. She will be forever remembered by her siblings Jennifer (Curtis), Jonathan (Marie), and Susan (David), her niece Erin (Joe), and nephews Richard and Greg (Manpreet).
Though she worked in offices as a bookkeeper, Ellen was predominantly a lifelong visual artist. She studied art at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in Toronto and earned her BA at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. When she received her post-graduate degree from the University of British Columbia, she was the only female in the Master of Fine Arts program.
Ellen had an extraordinary ability to see the world in a way that none of us did, photographing and sketching the textures and colours of her environment. She worked in multiple media: her skill with textiles gave family and friends richly hued and beautifully made knitted and woven items to remember her by, given as gifts over the years. She could—and often did—take small squares of paper, ink and coloured pencils, and turn them into tiny, perfect cards to mark special occasions, or just to say hi.
Partly by chance and partly by choice, Ellen simplified her life to embrace what was essential to her: appreciating the beauty of the natural world; transforming simple materials into striking yet practical objects; practicing yoga and meditation, which brought her deep peace; and enjoying the fellowship of like-minded people. She joined church choirs and knitting groups in all of the cities she called home and was a talented member of the Gateway Weavers and Spinners in North Bay.
Ellen felt strongly about the environment, always encouraging others not only to reuse and recycle, but also to stop for a moment to hear the whispering pines or watch the geese fly overhead. She never failed to offer a warm hug or kind word to her many friends and family when they needed it. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be held at Martyn Funeral Home in North Bay on Monday, October 23, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and on Tuesday, October 24, from 10:00 am til 11:00am followed by a small informal service at 11:00am. She will be laid to rest in the same place, and in the same year, as her parents Margaret and James Ramsey. They join her nephew Nicholas Klassen.
