Obituary of Ethel Fridholm

Fridholm, Ethel Ethel Jean Ellis Fridholm of blessed memory passed away on June 11, 2015 after months of declining health. She was 82. She was born on March 19, 1933 in Augusta, Kansas . “Jeannie” grew up on a farm, then worked for the telephone company as an operator, where she perfected her gift of soothing talk in times of need. Throughout her life she volunteered extensively, but she was most devoted to her job of responding to a suicide helpline. Her other lifelong passions were sewing and quilting. In her later years, she mastered Mahjong and made many friends at Shalom Cares. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Eugene E. Ellis, of Hunnewell, Kansas. They shared forty years of marriage. In their early years, Gene raced stock cars with Ethel as his support team; later, they traveled to watch car races across the country. Her greatest accomplishment was raising her children, and her greatest joy was time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lost her second husband, Frederick Fridholm, in 2005. Fred brought her much joy with his love of art and music, and his kind spirit. She is survived by her four children, Ken Ellis, who with his wife Peggy lives in Colorado Springs, Ret. Lt. Col. Hal Ellis of Colorado Springs, James Ellis of Blackhawk and his fiancé Debbie Jordan, Sue Allon, who along with her husband Harvey lives in Denver, and a stepson, Jon Carlos Fridholm, who with his wife Angel lives in Nebraska. Ethel had eight grandchildren, Matthew and Lacey Ellis, Natalie Allon, Aaron Allon and fiancé Katherine Moore, Rachel Paez and husband Jason, Ethan and Dylan Fridholm, Aaron Fridholm and fiancé Amber La Riviere, along with seven great-grandchildren. She remained close to her many nieces and nephews her entire life. Ethel spent nine years at Shalom Cares in Aurora, where she was surrounded by kindness and friendship, and received the best of care. She died at Denver Hospice, who made her last days comfortable. She will be buried in South Haven, Kansas, next to her beloved Gene. A memorial service is planned at Shalom Cares at 4 pm on June 24. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that she be honored with donations to Shalom Cares and Denver Hospice.