Ellen passed away peacefully on March 29, 2017 in Canora, Saskatchewan. Ellen Elizabeth Maudsley was born on June 15, 1946 in Kamsack, Saskatchewan. The eldest daughter of Herb and Jean Maudsley, she grew up with her two sisters, Janet and Marlene, in the Castlevary area near Roblin, Manitoba. As a young girl, Ellen was a huge help on the farm, minding her sisters and milking cows. Her school years were a joy for Ellen where she was rewarded for her literary prowess and accounting proficiency. Ellen married Jack Gardner on February 13, 1965. Over the next six years they were blessed with three sons, Shaun, Daniel and Rodney. Ellen loved her sons, their spouses (Lorraine, LeeAnn and Keri) and her grandchildren (Taylor, Bailey, Tanner, Brie and Grayson). She had a special relationship with each of the grandchildren and was famous for tucking in the kids at night by playing "farmer" on their backs with stories of cultivating, seeding, swathing, combining and baling. Ellen loved life, her family and managing money. Her ability to stop a full-on grass hockey game a block away with a call for supper was legendary. She loved long walks on the beach and around the Lake with family and friends. She loved adventure, travelling extensively with Jack in the later years. She loved the finer things in life like good shoes, nice clothing, fine dining and a glass of red wine. She was small but mighty and beautiful inside and out! She will be deeply missed by her beloved Jack, children, grandchildren, sisters, family and friends. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 5th 2017 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre. Crystal Bailey, B.Th. officiated, musical selections were 'Old Rugged Cross', 'Hallelujah', 'Amazing Grace', 'How Great thou Art', and 'Goodbye'. Tributes were by Kari Krause & Cameron, Jason Van Mulligan & Janet Krause, Marlene & Lou read a poem. Honorary bearers were Taylor, Bailey, Tanner, Brie & Grayson. Tanner also served as the urnbearer. The interment will take place at the Castleavery Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Canora Hospital, Palliative Care, or to the Salvation Army.
EULOGY - By sister Janet Krause
Good morning. Thank you all for coming together today to say a final farewell and celebrate the truly inspirational life of Ellen Gardner. To have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident..it is to have a soulmate for life. (Victoris Secunda, American phycologist and author)
Little Ellen was my big sister. Being only two years apart in age she was my play mate and co-babysitter of our younger sister. Of course we had our share of disagreements and hair pulling fights, but I always knew she had my back at school and away from home. Ellen being the oldest was held responsible for her younger sisters while Mom and Dad were doing chores. Of course things went wrong. Marlene the baby was about 8 months old when she was teething bite Ellen quite severely on her back. When Mom heard all the ruckus came running and took to scolding Ellen. We also weren’t very popular when we tied Marlene with yarn into the baby carriage so we could play ourselves, uninterrupted. One day Dad bought up a big two wheel bike our first. It wasn’t long before we crashed it doing some silly tricks careening down hill. We hid the bike for days thinking our parents wouldn’t notice. It was nice to have a partner in crime and take some of the heat off of me when we were in trouble. I was jealous of Ellen being so smart and beautiful. I did poorly on a test in which Ellen got 100%. She modelled a 4-H dress she had sewed herself, I was flat chested and wore glasses. At graduation she won a bursary for her literary skills which seemed like a lot of money at the time. At her graduation she wore a royal blue fitted dress on her slim perfect figure. She was a sight to behold, to me, to her family and the young men at the time. I improved a lot as I matured but it was Ellen’s example I followed. I wanted to make her as proud of me as I was of her. After graduation she enrolled at the Success Business College in Winnipeg. She finished her courses in record time and completed a full year of courses in less than 6 months. When she announced she was getting married in February of that year, Dad almost blew a gasket but seeing how well she had done at school he calmed down. Also the fact Jack was so handsome and personable; Mom was satisfied and pleased with her choice. Nothing more was said on the matter. Jack continued to be the favorite son-in-law. The next chapter of Ellen’s life was devoted to raising her family of boys and her career. Ellen together with Jack provided their boys with many opportunities in sports and school, attending hockey, baseball, and golf outings on a steady schedule. Ellen was their smallest but loudest fan at the hockey games. The rink rang out with Ellen’s voice SKATE GARDNER OR STAND UP GARDNER depending on which son was playing at the time. She would assist the boys with homework when needed and was their best ally in any unfavorable situations they found themselves. After a severe tongue lashing she would guide them to an acceptable solution. We all know Ellen was a strong debater. Whether it was a teacher, lawyer, police officer or judge in one case, she could usually find a way to out talk or outsmart a foe. I strongly believe they just gave in because they realized that she was not going to go away until they realized she was right. She had fortitude and determination unmatched by most professionals. When I mentioned the police earlier, it did not involve the boys. It was regarding a police officer trying to stop Ellen for a speeding violation. O. J. Simpson police chase springs to mind. However when asked by the officer why she didn’t stop when she noticed the flashing light, followed by the siren, she calmly stated she couldn’t find a safe spot to pull over. Ellen was a tough negotiator, just ask the courtroom judge in Pelly . The judge was handing down a substantial fine to one of the boys until Ellen took over as the defense lawyer, pointing out the ticket had been incorrectly dated and on the date specified, the son in question was not in or near Pelly. Unwillingly and blushing, the judge reluctantly dismissed all charges. The mailman, who threw rocks at the Bailey’s family dog, Buster, got a surprise when Ellen unleashed her distain on those who abuse an animal. She loved to ensure her sons knew she was in control and would throw anything at her disposal (shoes, glasses, books etc.) in an effort to emphasize the point. Until one day Rod turned her upside down in his arms, her control came to an end. Now Jack was the disciplinarian. According to Ellen everything was Jack’s fault, including JACK WHERE’S MY BRA. Even when she got her toe bitten by a JACK fish, it was Jack’s fault. The new puppy in the family brought excitement to their home one night by crawling under the blankets scaring Ellen severely. She made such a racket screaming and kicking around the dog never entered her bedroom again. However he never gave up trying to befriend her. Puppy was often involved in the disappearing of her under garments.
Spunky with a touch of audacity, Ellen made a great sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend and grandmother.
Her career was working with accounting and legal firms. In her final working years she was a controller and part owner of Logan Stevens company in Yorkton. I was totally shocked when a Winnipeg salesman knew of Ellen at Logan Stevens and commented on the amount of clout one of her stature possessed . Once computers were on the scene she loved a good spreadsheet. I also noticed she edited a cookbook that I had put together of our Mom’s handwritten recipes. I looked at her copy and in black felt marker she had corrected some of my spelling. In my defense the computer had changed some of the words I had typed correctly. She helped her family members and friends with their tax questions and forms and always did her own income tax returns. She was not only knowledgeable on accounting and taxation topics but after buying and selling homes for her family, being executors of several wills and trust funds, and estates, Ellen was asked by a legal firm to work for them. She thought she might like to do this as she had retired and enjoyed working in an office. When she discovered it was to work the winter months while the lawyers vacationed down south, she quickly declined. She enjoyed her ten years as a snow bird in Texas, Florida, Alabama and short stays and cruises in many other states and countries. She met many new friends, got a hole in one on an American golf course, enjoyed the Gulf of Mexico watching from her balcony awaiting the dolphins to put on a show. Visiting many new sites and restaurants and mardi gras parades were all so different and enjoyable. Ellen and Jack’s 50 anniversary was celebrated in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Ellen and Jack’s generosity with their time and money will not be forgotten by her family and sisters. Ellen and Jack attended many christenings, graduations, weddings, socials and birthday and anniversary parties. Ellen is my daughters Godmother and from that time forward she did not forget one birthday or Christmas for 36 years. My daughter was a very lucky godchild. Ellen was a fun loving girl. She enjoyed golf, card games and board games and dancing. She did the whole Macarena dance with my then 15 year daughter. I always got confused and behind with all the actions and movements it involved. It was way too long. Ellen got it perfect in a very short time. Farmer on the Back was a gift for all our children and grandchildren and friends grandchildren. The kids would line up and argue who would be first to Ellen’s massage of tickling, scratching, digging as farmers do to put in a crop and harvest. Many a child fell asleep during her special treatment. After she had indulged my grandchildren they wanted me to do farmer on the back but say the words grandma, like Auntie Ellen. I was always too tired. Ellen, I’m sure was too, but never disappointed a child. After our Dad’s funeral many people we hadn’t seen us for a long time couldn’t recognize us in our adult state. Being young and silly I piped up first, I’m Janet the Pretty One, quickly Ellen said I’m the Smart One, Marlene looking bewildered wondered what’s left, then proclaimed I’m THE YOUNG ONE. And to this day, she still is. WE have had so much fun with this over the years. Now, however, The Pretty Old One and The Young One are really going to miss THE SMART ONE.
Ellen was a great advisor to Marlene and Lou and Ray and I as we took our first stays as snowbirds, She helped by getting us contacts for condos and the ins and outs of credit cards and American currency and exchange fees and rates. Her dedication to make sure we were informed and getting the best deals was so important to her. We definitely will miss her guidance and expertise on these matters. She would arrange excursions for us that I know she had seen before many times just to make sure we had an enjoyable time. I remember my husband also enjoyed Ellen’s wit and competitiveness, in games and playing tricks on her, usually she found a way to get even. We brought back a big bag of dirty broken chiclets gum all the way from a Walmart parking lot in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I am in awe of the many wonderful and dedicated friends of Ellen. Friends that visited her often even before she was ill, friends to bring her treats, flowers, weed her flower beds, deliver meals, make up poems about her, take her to lunch, walk around the lake, read to her and just have tea with her. When tragedy struck her family, their friends were truly a god send. No one could have done more. I know she treasured each one and often told me of excursions she was planning with her friends. Ellen was always well dressed and pressed to perfection. Even after I thought ironing was passé her clothes were always without a wrinkle in sight and everything coordinated to the last detail. When I retired, so did my iron. Ellen and Jack made a striking couple not unnoticed by all who knew them. Together they made their family and friends feel loved and included. There is so much to say about Ellen’s life but I know others will want a chance. In closing I would like to include these words I found that I thought so fitting to describe Ellen. SOME PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE JUST BY BEING WHO THEY ARE
THEIR INNER LIGHT SHINES BRIGHT AND TOUCHES LIVES BOTH NEAR AND FAR
AND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE GONE
THEY STILL FOREVER PLAY A PART IN THE SMILES,
THE PRICELESS MOMENTS THAT ARE TREASURED IN THE HEART. BY E. MATTHEWS

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