Ellen Ross Stuart

With broken hearts, Ann and Ross Stuart announce the death of their beloved daughter, Ellen Ross Stuart, in Toronto on January 5, 2015, after a fourteen-year battle with depression. Nel was born on January 29th, 1987 (Chinese New Year’s Day, the Year of the Rabbit) and was a graduate of Hamlet Public School, Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute and York University (B.A. 2009, summa cum laude). She was intelligent, funny, beautiful, creative and compassionate. She loved theatre, anthropology, music, butterflies, caves, museums, children, Disney, literature, doing good, travel, writing, warm climates, adventures, mismatched socks and animals of all shapes and sizes especially her adored rescue cat, Mona. But all these gifts and enthusiasms and the love of so many people could not keep her with us. The highlight of the last year of Nel’s life was participating in the Out of Darkness Overnight in Seattle in support of the American Federation for Suicide Prevention. Wearing blue and green Mardi Gras beads and rainbow sneakers she walked 18 miles on a cold, rainy night, raising $2000 from family and friends who would have done anything to help her. The participants personalized “luminaries” (paper bags containing tea lights) to light the route. On hers, Nel used lines from her play Teenage Depression: an Adult Comedy, “We fight for the life of humanity because it could be you. It might be me. We are all somebody’s somebody. Thank you to my somebodies. And thank you to yours. Life wouldn't be worth it without you!" Dearest Nel, you were our Somebody. For the rest of our lives we will miss you and grieve for you. You will always be with us in spirit.

Cremation to follow. In memory of Nel we will establish an award at Hart House Theatre, an iconic place in Canadian culture and in our family. Donations as cheques preferred made out to Ellen Ross Stuart for deposit in a trust account. These can be mailed to Ross Stuart 121 William St, Stratford N5A4x9. There will be a celebration of her too-short life in the Spring. For more information contact Ross (rstuart@yorku.camailto:rstuart@yorku.ca) or Ann (astuart@sympatico.camailto:astuart@sympatico.ca).