Ellen Johanne (Wagner) Dalva, 97, of Pasadena TX, passed away March 17th, 2017. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 17th, 1921 to Danish parents Christian and Hansine Wagner. A few years later her family moved to New Jersey where she attended school, graduating from Tenafly High School. In 1950, she married Leif Dalva in Toms River, NJ where they raised their son and daughter. She moved to Texas in 1992 to be close to her daughter. In Texas, not many people knew her as Ellen, she usually introduced herself as, and expected to be called “Grandma”, no matter who you were.
Ellen always worked and had many jobs over the years; a sales clerk, a waitress for various diners, an electrician wiring communication panels during World War 2, a seamstress for Olga Frocks, a public school bus driver, and a housekeeper for several families until she finally retired at age 92. She truly knew the definition of hard work, but always enjoyed a chance to relax in her favorite place, the beach. She loved to play games like Rummikub or Gin Rummy with her grandchildren, she baked the best Christmas cookies, enjoyed watching live theatre with her daughter, working crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp, and would always bet on #7 in the 7th race…and usually win! She loved to play “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” on the piano. In her younger years, she was quite the adventurer, she traveled often and was even part of a roller derby league. Her travels included Denmark, Norway, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Canada, and most US states.
She is preceded in death by her sisters Grethe Stein and Nora Wagner, her grandson Michael Dalva, and her son-in-law Michael Scherm.
She is survived by her two children: son Drew Dalva (wife Terry) and daughter Stina Scherm; by her four grandchildren: Jeffrey Dalva, Kris Scherm (wife Deedra), Karl Scherm (wife Jessi), and Kevin Scherm (wife Karla); by her ten great-grandchildren: Jeffrey Jr., Gabby, David, Keifer, Charlie, Lars, Stina, Petra, Elsa, and Owen; and by her great-great-grandchild Brody.
A memorial gathering for Ellen will be held Sunday, March 24, 2019 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, Texas 77598.
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