Obituary of Ellen McGregor

<h1>Ellen McGregor</h1> (née McDonald) Ellen passed away suddenly in her 85th year at Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga, New York on October 15, 2009. Ellen was born on August 17, 1924 in Toronto, Ontario to Victoria Alberta Beatrice Sanderson (daughter of Mary Amelia Lundy and Leonard Sanderson) and Ernest Emerson McDonald (son of Edwin McDonald and Ellen McDermott). She was the second eldest in a family of six children. Shortly after her birth the family moved to Cooksville, Ontario where they lived on a farm for twenty years and her father owned and operated Jersey’s Ltd. in Toronto, Ontario. Ellen was a keen horsewoman and talented pianist who as a child competed at the Peel Music Festival. She was a member of Cooksville United Church where she participated in the Church choir and taught Sunday school. She graduated from Shaw College which led to a job in banking at the Royal Bank of Canada in Cooksville, Ontario in 1942. After moving to a further banking job in Toronto, Ontario, Ellen began to pursue her real career interest, that being radio and television broadcasting. She worked as a television production secretary at CKCL in Toronto and this job led her to a position in the Radio Traffic department of CFRB and finally as Traffic Manager at CKCO Television. It was at CFRB that she met the love of her life Bill McGregor whom she married on December 31, 1950 and was married for 59 wonderful years. Bill and Ellen moved to the K-W area in 1953 and have remained there throughout their married life with the exception of their many travels to other parts of the world; a hobby that Ellen thoroughly enjoyed. Ellen was a remarkable lady who brought joy and laughter into many people’s lives. She devoted her married life to supporting her family. A talented seamstress, enthusiastic gardener, horsewoman, pianist, decorator, cottager and homemaker she touched the lives of others with her generosity and love. Nothing was ever too much effort for her and she was always there to provide a helping hand. Her sense of humour, enjoyment of people and pets will be sorely missed by all who had the opportunity to know her. Ellen will be lovingly remembered by her devoted husband Bill McGregor, her daughter Kelly McGregor, son -in-law Keith Gillespie, her two cherished grandchildren Kathryne and Robbie Gillespie, her sister Shirley McDonald, her brother Harold McDonald, her brother-in-law Bruce McGregor, her sisters-in-law Mary Lou Watson, Pauline McGregor and Barbara McGregor, her brother-in-law Leslie Canivet ( a Hong Kong War Veteran) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends. Ellen was predeceased by her mother Victoria (Sanderson) and father Ernest McDonald, her sister Mary Canivet (McDonald), brothers Ernie McDonald and Ron McDonald and her brother-in-law, Ivan McGregor. Ellen’s family will receive relatives and friends at the Erb &amp; Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The funeral service will follow in the chapel at 1:30 p.m. A private interment will follow the service. As expressions of sympathy, donations in memory of Ellen to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kitchener branch or the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA Foundation would be appreciated by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.