She was born in Glasgow, UK in 1936. She overcame serious illness as a child, which was made worse by wartime shortages of medications. However, she conquered these issues and thrived. The complications came back in later life, but she beat them all.
In 1955, she married the late Robert McGuire in the UK. Later, she followed her husband and emigrated to the United States in 1958. She and her husband settled into the Bronx, and later on, Yonkers, NY.
She was active in various expatriate social clubs, notably, The St. Margaret’s Guild and the St. Andrew’s Club. She was also very active with the Coyne Park Senior’s Center in Yonkers. Even while raising young children, Ella always worked hard outside the home. She worked for many years at the YMCA in Yonkers, and then pushed herself further to eventually become an Administrative Assistant at the Gestetner Corporation. Finally, she retired as an Administrative Assistant from the Westchester Library System. She also voluntarily attended the bar at the Italian City Club in Yonkers, just for fun and to make new friends.
Ella always maintained a big zest for life, and enjoyed travel and cruises, sometimes by herself. She was fiercely independent and set that example for her children.
In addition to her parents (John and Helen Shanks), and her husband, Ella was predeceased by her brother, James Shanks (Sarah), and her sister Anne Scherer (William).
She is survived by her children, Elaine Helmrich (Frank), Stephen McGuire (Theresa), her grandchildren Kenneth Helmrich (Samantha), Andrew Helmrich, Colin McGuire, and Aidan McGuire, her great grandson Walter Helmrich, her nephew, John Shanks (Joann), and many cousins.
The family will announce a celebration of her life at a future date.
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