Ella G. Ralph October 7, 1918 - March 4, 2020

Ralph, Ella Gwendolyn – Passed peacefully away on March 4, 2020, at her home in St. John’s, age 101 years and 5 months. Predeceased by her husband Charles and daughter Gwendolyn. Leaving to mourn her daughter Verna (Frank), son Avalon (Anne), and son-in-law Jerry, grandchildren Michael (Kelli),Alexander, Jason (Jennifer), Nicholas (Abbie), and great-grandchildren Mackenzie, William, Gus, Bliss, Charlotte, and Laurel, as well as a devoted circle of other family members and friends. Her family wishes to acknowledge the compassionate expertise of Dr. Peter Robbins, Nurse Lori Dalton, and the palliative homecare team of Eastern Health.Resting at Fewer’s Funeral Home, Lethbridge, on Monday, March 9, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.  Funeral service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2020,at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Brooklyn, with interment at the church cemetery.Anyone wishing to make a donation in Ella’s memory,may do so to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Brooklyn, NL.

Born in 1918 on Coward’s Island (part of the Flat Islands), Bonavista Bay, Ella exhibited the usual fortitude, competence and industriousness of women of her generation and birthplace. Her three children were all born on the Island, and she endured many of the challenges of raising a young family on an isolated island. Complementing her husband’s fishing activities, she did many of the home-place chores, including developing a talent for sewing. And just like most people living in early-to-mid-20^th-century outport Newfoundland, she was strongly supportive of, and supported by, her community and the church.

The Ralph family moved to Lethbridge in the late 1950s, part of the larger migration of families that occurred in Newfoundland during that time. Here her sewing skills were put to good use as she received requests for altering and making clothes from residents in the town. Eventually her grown children moved on tocareers elsewhere, and Ella and her husband remained in Lethbridge, where her fondness for gardening, sewing and knitting continued to be rewarding pursuits.

After the passing of her husband Charles in 1991, she lived in St. John’s (initially for just the winter months) with her daughter and family. She enjoyed and reciprocated the demonstrative affections of her four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and recently received visits from family living in Nova Scotia, and Georgia and Virginia, USA.

It is important to note that on Coward’s Island, as in Lethbridge and St. John’s, the Anglican Church and its venerable articles of faith were central in Ella’s life. Even in later years, she was eager to get out to church when weather and health permitted, and had fond memories of her involvement in the many church functions and organizations over her lifetime. Until prevented by failing eyesight during the last couple of months of her life, she read her vintage copy of My Daily Prayers. In a less contemplative vein, she also did the Telegram’s dailyJumble Puzzle, and enjoyed reading romance novels and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Throughout her lifetime, her surrounding family and closest friends held her in love, awe and warm affection. Thank you for all you’ve given us Ella Gwendolyn. Rest in peace.