Ellena-Rae (Ellie) Slater

SLATER - Ellena Rae (Ellie) (Nee: Brunton)

February 15, 1938 – March 1, 2022

On 1 March 2022, Ellena Rae (Ellie) Slater, 84, of Brentwood Bay, BC, passed away peacefully at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

Ellie was born in Marvelville, Ontario to Alice Elaine and Charles John Brunton on February 15, 1938, and is the eldest of her 3 siblings.

Ellie lived in Ottawa during her youth, was an accomplished athlete, a Leader in the Girl Guide movement, an enthusiastic reader, and she was proud to have received a ‘Certificate of Perfect Attendance’ upon graduation at 16 before commencing her first job working at the Reserve Bank of Canada.

Ellie married the love of her life, Doug, in Ottawa in July 1961. Daughter Heather joined them in 1965 before the family moved Vancouver, B.C. where they welcomed Valerie in 1968.  In 1974 the family settled in Brentwood Bay where they enjoyed boating the inland coastal waters.

Ellie combined her passion for her family with her hobby as a talented & precise seamstress while raising their young daughters.  Always thoughtful, engaging, and welcoming, Ellie was a very popular and ‘cool’ mom amongst the girls’ friends.

When the girls were more independent, she joined Canada Post in Brentwood Bay, eventually becoming Postmaster where she was a well-liked face of the community until she gave up work in 1999 & travelled to Australia for the birth of a grandchild.

Ellie enjoyed the numerous trips she took after retirement which included Las Vegas with Heather, a trip to Disneyland with both daughters and all 4 grandchildren, and numerous trips to Australia with Doug to visit with their daughter Valerie & and family.  One of her most memorable trips to Australia with Doug included exploratory visits to & around Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney, Ayers Rock, a train trip on The Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide followed immediately with a flight to Far North Queensland for some R&R in Port Douglas.

Ellie lived life on her terms, fought courageously throughout her long battle with cancer and spent the end of her life surrounded by many who loved her.

Ellie is survived by her husband Doug, daughters Heather (Juan) and Valerie (Costa), grandchildren Lucy & Caleb, Victoria & Hudson, siblings Enid (Zelig), Brian (Evelyn), and Cheryl, sister-in-law Barbara and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Saanich Peninsula VIHA Palliative Care Team of Nurses, Doctors, Home Care Workers and all who participated in caring for our wife/mother.

At Ellie’s request, no service will be held.