Stephanie Ellis

Stephanie B. Ellis, 97, formerly of Raleigh, NC, peacefully went to be with the Lord on January 30, 2016 at Cambridge Hills Assisted Living in Pittsboro, NC. She and her twin sister Annie were born June 9, 1918 in Ely, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children to the late Anna Popesh Bachar and Michael Bachar.Stephanie had a happy and fulfilled 97 years of life. She moved to North Carolina when she was 21 years old and married Claude W. Ellis. She was a homemaker for the first twenty plus years of her marriage and after earning her High School Equivalency Certificate at the age of 48 entered the workforce as a Data Clerk for the NC Department of Health and Human Resources. She retired after fifteen years with the state to take care of her ailing husband Claude. One month shy of their 45th wedding anniversary Claude passed away. She was a longstanding member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC.She loved being outside. Nothing made her happier than “playing in the dirt” with her flowers, mowing her lawn and maintaining a manicured landscape that left the neighbors scrambling to mow their yard to keep up with the 90-year Grannie. She had a green thumb that could grow anything. Not only did she grow her vegetables and fruits, she canned them when she harvested them. Countless rows of mason jars filled with green beans beside the best canned tomatoes of all. She made lots of jams and jellies from the fruit she grew and used them as toppings for her world winning buttermilk biscuits. Not only did she fix the best family dinners she always had an assortment of desserts that every grandchild felt was made just for them.Family meant everything to her and she was faithful to celebrate all the holidays cooking our favorites for all of us that could get together. Summer time was also special because the grandchildren took turns staying with her and she always made us feel as if you were the greatest kid in the world. She taught us the value of hard work, how to cook, sew, hang out clothes, bargain shop with coupons and mow grass. As we have gotten older we finally realized the wisdom she was able to impart on each one of us that we now are passing onto our children.Five years ago, dementia robbed her of her independence and slowly stole her memories. In spite of the devastating effects of the dementia, she remained resilient and compassionate until the very end. Residents and the staff at Cambridge Hills were the beneficiaries of the love that overflowed from a woman who loved without hesitation and boundaries.She is survived by her daughter Patricia Ellis of Pittsboro, NC and significant other Cathy Aiken of Prospect Hill, NC and seven grandchildren: Darlene Stroupe of Wilmington, NC, Deborah Ellis of Baltimore, MD, Cynthia and Eddie Birchfield of Maryville, TN, Claude “Scooter” and Kim Ellis of Wilmington, NC, Stephanie and Michael Daniels of Charlotte, NC, John Ellis, II of Wilmington, NC and Jack Ellis of Pittsboro, NC.She had eight great-grandchildren: Paula and David Pittman, Jesse and Bridgette Stroupe, Kelsey Ellis, siblings Dominic and Cassidy Lemons, Kaitlin Ellis, and siblings Elizabeth and Matthew Daniels. She was also a Great-Great Grandmother to siblings Haley and Winston Davis and Casen Stroupe.She was preceded in death by her husband Claude Ellis, her two sons, Charles Ellis and John Ellis both of Wilmington, NC, and by her siblings: Mary, Mike, Frank, John, Christine, and twin sister Annie. The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 2, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Donaldson Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Silver Chapel Cemetery, Bakersville, NC where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Claude. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 3739 National Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612.Graveside services and interment will be on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Silver Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.Words of comfort may be e-mailed to the family by going to our website; www.webbfh.com., selecting Stephanie Ellis’ name and then you may sign her guestbook. Webb Funeral Home in Spruce Pine, NC is assisting the Ellis family. Mrs. Ellis’ obituary has also been posted on Facebook for viewing.Stephanie B. Ellis, 97, formerly of Raleigh, NC, peacefully went to be with the Lord on January 30, 2016 at Cambridge Hills Assisted Living in Pittsboro, NC. She and her twin sister Annie were born June 9, 1918 in Ely, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children to the late Anna Popesh Bachar and Michael Bachar.Stephanie had a happy and fulfilled 97 years of life. She moved to North Carolina when she was 21 years old and married Claude W. Ellis. She was a homemaker for the first twenty plus years of her marriage and after earning her High School Equivalency Certificate at the age of 48 entered the workforce as a Data Clerk for the NC Department of Health and Human Resources. She retired after fifteen years with the state to take care of her ailing husband Claude. One month shy of their 45th wedding anniversary Claude passed away. She was a longstanding member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC.She loved being outside. Nothing made her happier than “playing in the dirt” with her flowers, mowing her lawn and maintaining a manicured landscape that left the neighbors scrambling to mow their yard to keep up with the 90-year Grannie. She had a green thumb that could grow anything. Not only did she grow her vegetables and fruits, she canned them when she harvested them. Countless rows of mason jars filled with green beans beside the best canned tomatoes of all. She made lots of jams and jellies from the fruit she grew and used them as toppings for her world winning buttermilk biscuits. Not only did she fix the best family dinners she always had an assortment of desserts that every grandchild felt was made just for them.Family meant everything to her and she was faithful to celebrate all the holidays cooking our favorites for all of us that could get together. Summer time was also special because the grandchildren took turns staying with her and she always made us feel as if you were the greatest kid in the world. She taught us the value of hard work, how to cook, sew, hang out clothes, bargain shop with coupons and mow grass. As we have gotten older we finally realized the wisdom she was able to impart on each one of us that we now are passing onto our children.Five years ago, dementia robbed her of her independence and slowly stole her memories. In spite of the devastating effects of the dementia, she remained resilient and compassionate until the very end. Residents and the staff at Cambridge Hills were the beneficiaries of the love that overflowed from a woman who loved without hesitation and boundaries.She is survived by her daughter Patricia Ellis of Pittsboro, NC and significant other Cathy Aiken of Prospect Hill, NC and seven grandchildren: Darlene Stroupe of Wilmington, NC, Deborah Ellis of Baltimore, MD, Cynthia and Eddie Birchfield of Maryville, TN, Claude “Scooter” and Kim Ellis of Wilmington, NC, Stephanie and Michael Daniels of Charlotte, NC, John Ellis, II of Wilmington, NC and Jack Ellis of Pittsboro, NC.She had eight great-grandchildren: Paula and David Pittman, Jesse and Bridgette Stroupe, Kelsey Ellis, siblings Dominic and Cassidy Lemons, Kaitlin Ellis, and siblings Elizabeth and Matthew Daniels. She was also a Great-Great Grandmother to siblings Haley and Winston Davis and Casen Stroupe.She was preceded in death by her husband Claude Ellis, her two sons, Charles Ellis and John Ellis both of Wilmington, NC, and by her siblings: Mary, Mike, Frank, John, Christine, and twin sister Annie. The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 2, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Donaldson Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Silver Chapel Cemetery, Bakersville, NC where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Claude. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 3739 National Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612.Graveside services and interment will be on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Silver Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.Words of comfort may be e-mailed to the family by going to our website; www.webbfh.com., selecting Stephanie Ellis’ name and then you may sign her guestbook. Webb Funeral Home in Spruce Pine, NC is assisting the Ellis family. Mrs. Ellis’ obituary has also been posted on Facebook for viewing.Read Obituary