Ellen Margaret Boyce

BOYCE, Ellen Margaret

August 11, 2022

Ellen Boyce was born Ellen Margaret Pake in 1922 in Vancouver British Columbia to her parents Edith and James. She was the middle child of a family of three siblings. She left home at a relatively young age to attend Normal school to obtain her teaching certification. Her first teaching position was in 1941.

She enlisted in Royal Canadian Air Force and served our country during WW2 as a morse code operator. It was during that time she met her future husband Wilfred Boyce. They married on March 1,1945 in Rivers Manitoba

Our father Wilfred was raised by a widowed mother during the great depression., as his father passed away as a result of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. This was very formative for his views on women. In  our mother he discovered a personality with a remarkable combination of independence, intelligence, free spiritedness, a remarkable wit, and sense of humour. Together they shared feminist views long before it was a recognized movement. It was within this sphere of beliefs, that they raised their four children.

Our mother was not your typical 1950’s housewife. She enjoyed her independence, she was smart, creative, and determined to make the most of her life. Ellen earned her Permanent Standard Certification from the Department of Education of Alberta in 1965 after furthering her education at the University of Alberta. She returned to work as a fifth grade teacher. Due to our father’s career with The Canadian National Railway, we were transferred to Montreal, Quebec. She started her teaching career the Protestant school board in 1968. She continued to further her education and earned her teaching diploma in 1970 from The Dept of Education of Quebec.

Ellen was a brilliant educator. She demonstrated remarkable teaching skills in Arts and crafts, and music as well as the regular curriculum. Any student who entered her classroom, entered into a rich learning environment. She was light years ahead of time in new educating styles. She developed a circular desk arrangement for inclusive learning. She included aquariums, plants, and encouraged bold art projects to enrich the school environment. Much to the chagrin of the school principal. She took several classes and individual students to compete in music festivals which resulted in scholarships for music lessons for some of her students. She earned the respect and recognition of the school board as a music specialist, which was remarkable as she had no formal musical training. She was the inspiration for many students to explore the world of music.

Our parents sought to provide us with optimal opportunities for learning and developing our creative interests. We were provided with music singing, dancing and art lessons and development of our public speaking capabilities. All of her children excelled with her support, training and encouragement. We were encouraged to participate in sport activities and most importantly Curling. Mom was an avid curler. She achieved the position of skip and competed and won many bonspiels in Ontario and Quebec. In retirement our mother purchased our first home computer. She enrolled in online further education and earned honour marks in her courses. This was driven by her innate thirst for knowledge and flair for mathematics. She used the computer to create and submit short stories that were published in The Reader’s Digest. These traits are shared by all of her children and also shared with her grandchildren. She was a role model for lifelong learning and creativity

She was an animal lover, but most importantly her love of dogs. We know her dog Daisy was patiently waiting for her arrival on the other side. Ellen was predeceased by her husband Wilfred in 1990, her son Brian in 1996, her brother Bill Pake and sister June Hopps in 2016, and niece Charlotte Gardener in 2018.  She leaves behind her son, James Boyce and wife Maureen, daughter Linda Aadne and husband Terje, daughter Robyn Cooper and her husband Howard. She will be remembered fondly by her nephews Larry Hopps, Bill Pake, Jim Pake, nieces Mairi Jones, Susan Dekker, Patricia Etheridge, Joyce Rouhaianien, Sharon Getty and their significant others. She leaves behind several grandchildren; Marissa Boyce, Darcy Boyce, Alison Boyce, Cameron Boyce, Angela Owen and husband Dave, Tara Boyce, Logan Boyce and fiancé Carine, Hilary Cooper and partner Mitch, Mark Cooper and wife Rachelle, and Evan Cooper and partner Maya, David Blakkisrud Aadne and wife Siw, Kaja Aadne Thoresen and her husband Lars Erik, Elisabeth Aadne Jacobsen, and her husband Cato, Daniel James Aadne and partner Mia Andresen, Matthew Aadne and his wife Ragnchild Torvaldsdottir. She also leaves behind several great grandchildren; Victoria, Andreas, and Caroline Blakkisrud Aadne, Matilda and Josephine Aadne Thoresen, Benjamin, Isabell, and Maya Aadne Jacobsen, Adele and Aurora Aadne, Tarjei and Julian Aadne, Elliot Owen, Avery Boyce, and Arthur White.