Obituary of Ellen Millman

Ellen Hinda Millman Braeshore, Nova Scotia Ellen Hinda Millman (nee Yablon), B.A., M.A. age 76 died peacefully on September 9, 2016 in Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia after a brief struggle with lung cancer. Born in Halifax, September 16, 1939 Ellen was the eldest daughter of Max and Sarah (Jacobson) Yablon. Ellen leaves to mourn her best friend and husband of 58 years Alan Millman; daughter and son-in-law Faun and Ken Doctor of Dartmouth; daughter Leila of Orillia, sister and brother-in-law Sandra and Howard Schoenfeld of Pikesville, Maryland; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Barbie (Newman) Yablon of Toronto, sister-in-law Paula Millman of Pictou; two grandchildren Sarina Wilson of Montreal and Reginald Wilson of Fort McMurray; one Aunt, Mindy (Borace) Jacobson of Halifax and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Ellen and Alan were predeceased by middle daughter Eva in 2012. Ellen’s childhood was filled with music, a large extended family and happy memories. She enjoyed working in her parent’s store, The Capital Tobacco and Gift on George Street in Halifax, was an accomplished early academic at QEII High School and entered Dalhousie University at the age of 16. It was at Dalhousie University in 1956 that Ellen met the love of her life Alan and in 1958 they married and she left university to be a wife and in quick succession the mother of three daughters. Though a busy Mother, Ellen found time and energy to return to school and completed a Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude from the Universitie de Moncton in 1968. Later that year, Ellen won a full two year Fellowship which included books, tuition, a weekly spending stipend and more importantly an allowance for a full time housekeeper which enabled her to attend the Psychology Graduate Program at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Ellen graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1970. In 1971 the family moved back to Halifax and Ellen registered with the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia and started work with the Halifax City School Board. The role of Clinical Child Psychologist suited Ellen for she was a ‘doer’ who believed all things in some way possible. In 1976 Ellen and Alan’s middle daughter Eva was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Ellen educated herself about the disorder and then set out to change the language and attitude of others first by involvement with ‘Friends of Schizophrenia’ and by involvement from 1981-1987 as a Director and then President of Metro Community Housing Association. In 1992 Ellen joined Alan in Fort McPherson, NWT by taking a two year secondment to work for the Gwich’in Tribal Council serving the communities of Fort McPherson, Arctic Red River, Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. On return from Fort McPherson in 1994, Ellen resumed her duties with the Halifax City School Board retiring in 1996. She then started a private psychology consulting practice which she successfully operated until 2014. Ellen took great pleasure in her large and multiple flower and vegetable gardens grown at the family hobby farm, an historic Pictou County property built in 1809 named ‘River Winds’ located in River John. Ellen and Alan spent many winters in Florida where they lived in Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Wales and The Villages. Ellen’s enjoyment of cooking, playing bridge and entertaining along with her wit, sense of humour and ease with people kept her with friends wherever she went. Ellen was an accomplished Life Masters duplicate bridge player who won many events although she would be the first to say it took her years to acquire any skill. She enjoyed teaching and introducing the game to others and recently had started a small afternoon club at the Stellarton Senior Centre, Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Ellen and family would like to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to the V.O.N. of Pictou County; Dr. Anne Kwasnikand staff at the Palliative Care Unit, Aberdeen Hospital; Dr Melanie MacCara for her patience and friendship over the years and the many friends and family members who supported her. Ellen loved life and if describing her in one word it would be ‘undaunted’. Those who knew Ellen are invited to a celebration of her life on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Pictou United Church, 47 James Street, Pictou immediately followed by a reception at The Pictou Lodge, Braeshore, Nova Scotia. In lieu of flowers, donations ‘In Honour of Eva Millman to the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation’, 280 Beechwood Avenue, PO Box 7025 Ottawa, Ontario K1L 8E2 are appreciated.