Ellie Bakker

Ellie Bakker

1950 – 2024

Hilligje (Ellie) Bakker passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024, at the age of 74 years in a beautiful room surrounded by trees at St Joseph’s Home -Carmel Hospice. Ellie found her peace and was reunited with her special partner, George Young; her parents, John and Niesje Bakker; her brothers, John and Yopi, and many more family and friends. Left to remember her with love, laughter and a lifetime of memories are her brothers, Hans (Juanita) Bakker, Bernie (Susie) Bakker and Rick Bakker, her sisters, Debbie (Pali) Gill and Niesje (Andy) Lyons. Also her nieces, Jodie, Stacey, Toni, Jenna, and nephews, Dustin, Alex and Aaron along with their partners and children. She also leaves her soul sister, Rene (Marcel) Desjarlais to remember her spirit and friendship.

Ellie was born on February 2, 1950 in Zuidwolde, Drenthe, Holland; the first of eight children to Johannes and Niesje Bakker. The family flew to Canada in 1956, not just for a vacation as Ellie thought, but to start a new life. She went to IF Cox school where Miss Cox took her under her wing, quickly teaching Ellie to read inspiring the lifelong love of caring for books that led Ellie to read for hours every day and never own a television. Ellie left school and began her work life at John Van Dam’s greenhouse for 10 years. She then went on to work for Minnie and Irwin at Happiness Garden in the Kitchen for 8 years, learning to try all of their cultural food that wasn’t on the menu and loving it. Following was a 2 year spell at Batus; Ellie always being very proud of working at RV 85 and having a helicopter ride over the vast prairies. Then came time cleaning the Redcliff Legion, private housecleaning, and babysitting for a few special families. IF Cox School called her back in 1991 and she became a housekeeper at the school and Miss Bakker to all the children. She worked there until retirement, and the memories made with the children were priceless to her.

Ellie was one of a kind, she had great humor and was a kid at heart loving cartoons and printed jokes. Her opinion was honest, frank and you always knew exactly where she stood. She loved the river, sitting on the bench and watching it flow. She spent many nights chatting with Stacey, Mat or Kristen at Food Fair, or Dianne at the Taxi stand. Her family time was cherished, pringle parties for her younger siblings, teaching all her nieces and nephews how to make mud pies. So many evenings were spent at Bernie’s and Susie’s, having great food, watching their TV and scruffing Jaxx, going for night drives and coffees. Yearly things like Hans and Juanitas corn roast, Boxing Day at Niesje and Andys, Lethbridge jaunts with Debbie and camping with her when she was well. She had years of great adventures with her George, gallavanting all over for food in out of the way places all over Alberta. Much time was spent with Rene, a tradition was spending Christmas Eve night together. She had a coffee group at the bakery Wednesday mornings with Jeanette and the girls and loved the chats. It’s no wonder she was tired when the cancer took its stronghold. She loved and was loved by so many and her story was so very well lived.

The family can never express enough thanks to the River Ridge Staff, Carly and Joanne, the wonderful team at Margery Yuill Cancer Center, Jamie and Sherry, the

Palliative Doctors and nurses, Burke the pharmacist, and Cook’s Funeral Home. To the incredible people at St. Joseph’s Home Carmel Hopsice, we will never forget the beautiful life you gave Ellie with your kindness, care, love and laughter. The memory of her time there and her joy and ability to simply enjoy the love of all who visited and cared for her will never be forgotten.

A celebration of Ellie’s life will be announced at a later date this summer.

(Condolences may be expressed by visiting the Cook Southland Funeral Chapel website at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium & Reception Facility, Medicine Hat, Alberta. Telephone: 403-527-6455.