Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.Mahatma Gandhi Beth Ellenby
July 22nd 1963 - May 24th 2008
The celebration of Beth's life will be held at Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday July 20th at 3pm. The VUU church is at 6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler, Arizona (off Ray, between Priest and Kyrene).
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My beloved wife, Beth Laurel Ellenby, passed away in Banner Desert Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday May 24th at 10.30pm, after a 7 month battle with inflammatory breast cancer.
Beth passed peacefully and calmly, in no pain, with many family and friends by her side. Our great thanks go to the fantastic team at Banner Desert Hospital Intensive Care Unit, who made Beth’s last hours comfortable and stress-free.
The funeral will be held on Sunday June 1st at 2pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City, MN (about 2 hours drive west of Minneapolis). The church is on the right, just as you enter Grove City. Michael and Jayde, Beth’s parents Jerry and Joan, and her brothers and sisters - Ben, Andrea, Keith and Katy - and friends look forward to seeing you at this service.
A celebration of Beth’s life will also be held in Phoenix in early July. This will be a great celebration of the enormous positive impact that Beth had on many lives. More details available later.
Memorial donations can be made in Beth’s name at www.heifer.org. Beth and I had seen at first hand the powerful long-term impact of such gifts can have on families in third world countries.
I know that many of you may not have been aware of Beth’s illness - Beth had such strong belief that she was going to be healed, she did not want to share the news of her illness. She believed that this would be cured in a short time, and put it all behind us quickly. This has been a huge shock to all of us.
I especially want to thank our friends Charles, Debbie and Gia, who have been tireless through this. Jacque Madsen-Nigri has been a great friend for many years, and is skilled ICU nurse in the ward where Beth was being treated. Her compassion, love and guidance to Beth and I during the last 2 days was nothing short of angelic.
Thank you Beth for the greatest adventure of my life. My only regret is that it did not last longer. While I knew the extent of your illness, your optimism, positive attitude and drive to beat the illness were truly inspiriing. I stood in awe of your strength, commitment and love.
To Jerry, Soonja and Anna Viniegra, and Chris - thank you for opening your home and hearts to Beth whle she was in LA for the last month for radiation treatment. I did not want her to go to LA, but if she had to be anywhere, your hme is the only place I felt comfortable her being there.
Please leave your thoughts here for Beth, click on the link on the left. or for all of us. You can also attach your favorite photos.
Please feel free to call Michael at home 480 456 8799 , or cell 480 283 7367 . Beth's parents Jerry and Joan can be reached in Grove City at home on 320 857 BETH (2384).
The obituary is here. Beth's parents, Jerry and Joan, can be reached at PO Box 275, Grove City, MN 56243. Michael and Jayde live at 118 E Palomino Dr, Tempe, AZ 85284. Michael can be emailed at michaelellenby@yahoo.com.
As Beth would say "big hugs and smoochies to you!!".
Michael and Jayde
