Ella Margaret Jones

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Ella M. Jones, (nee Schell), who died gently in Woodstock, Ontario on Friday, January 26, 2024 at the age of 90.

Ella has been happily reunited with her beloved husband, Milburn Vincent Jones (2015), and has departed from her daughters, Maggi (Geoff Norris) and Evelyn (Steve Law) and granddaughters, Ariella, Mady and Jade. She will also be missed greatly by her sister Mary Payne, nieces June Flath (Greg), Nancy Payne, and great-niece Jessica Flath (David), and great-nephew Otto Flath, and great-great niece Gwen.

Ella was a warm, kind, and thoughtful person who expressed gratitude for life’s offerings. Her passing will be sadly noted by the many people who knew and loved her, and to those that she extended kindness to during her life.

A certified “farm girl”, Ella was raised on a thriving Holstein dairy farm in Oxford County, and later lived in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Omemee, Peterborough, returning home to Oxford County in the last year of her life. Enjoying life in equal measure in the city and the country, Ella loved her pets, enjoyed growing vegetables, and she and Milburn had a knack for cultivating beautiful flower gardens at every home they lived.

A great lover of books, Ella adored literature and poetry, and read voraciously. After graduating from high school, she set out for the University of Toronto, gaining her MA in Religious Education and a BSc in Library Science.

It was while working in Thunder Bay Public library, in 1964, that Ella as Maid of Honour at a friend’s wedding met Milburn, the Best Man. Happily, Milburn and Ella married the following year and moved to Toronto to start their family. Ella and Milburn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in 2015.

Ella demonstrated her belief in life-long learning by always showing great interest in people, current events, volunteering in the community, and taking courses on everything from Spanish to Spiritual Care. Both Ella and Milburn felt learning also took place outside of the classroom, and they instilled their love of travel in their children. Ella visited several countries including China, Spain, Jamaica, Israel, Panama, England, as well as traveling to many parts of Canada and the US.

In 2023, Ella moved to Caressant Care Nursing Home in Woodstock, and enjoyed being close to her sister Mary and her nieces and their families. Ella’s family is grateful to the staff at Caressant Care for the kind and gentle compassion they showed Ella in her final year.

In memory of Ella, donations to the following charities would be appreciated: Doctors without Borders (MSF); 5 Counties Children’s Centre; and 4th Line Theatre.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 30th at 1:00 pm at Brocks and Visser Funeral Home in Woodstock, with a funeral service at 2:00 pm, and reception afterwards.

Interment will follow the next day on Wednesday, January 31st at Emily Cemetery Peterborough at 1 pm with an informal get together from 2:30-4:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront.