She was cremated and her ashes were spread around a rose bush in the front entrance to El Toro Memorial Park Cemetery. She wanted to be cremated for fear of the bugs that might eat her if she were buried. She also wanted her ashes thrown into the ocean, however, there wasn't funds to accommodate that request so a rose bush was selected instead. Iris was her favorite flower.
She was married to Benjamin Harrison Shapley and had 6 children: Robert (died at the age of 6 months of pneumonia with complications of spinal meningitis), Betty, Irving, Francis, Victor and Arlene.
Her and Benjamin divorced in April 1936. She married Eugene Riefler in September 1936. They divorced sometime between 1943-1947. She moved to Vallejo, California sometime between 1944 and 1947. She then married Gerald Eugen Van Auken. They divorced sometime after 1953 but before 1955. She moved to Los Angeles sometime around 1955 as that is when my mother and her 3 daughters came from New York to live with her in Los Angeles. Ellen then moved to Orange, Orange, California on Beaton Way, a home she bought on her own sometime around 1956-1957. Her daughter moved in with her around 1957 with her 3 daughters and one son was born while she lived there. Between 1959-1960, Ellen had to sell her home and moved into an apartment. From that time on she lived in about 3 different apartments, then with her daughter for about 5 years and then spent the last 5 years of her life in a nursing home.
She told me she was raised on a farm but the 1920 US Census shows otherwise. She had to care for her sickly mother, Harriet "Hattie" (Hartwell) Van Dusen, all through her teen years until she got married.
Her father, Robert Elmer Van Dusen, remarried, to her disliking, a woman young enough to be her sister, Viola. The story of Viola was that she was an orphan and therefore there were no records on her. More recent her maiden name was found and possibly a previous husband. Confirmation of this has not been found as yet.
A couple of the jobs she had were: bus driver for USO during WWII, busing military men from base to town; a restaurant dishwasher in 1940; a dry cleaner agent in 1950; and a dietitian from about 1956-1960 at the Orange County Hospital in California, now known as UCI Medical, until she was let go at the age of 55 yrs old because she dropped a bowl of hot oatmeal on her foot that caused third degree burns, laying her up for three weeks. When she went to return to work, at the hospital, they decline to keep her. She never worked again.
She was a stern grandmother, while helping my mother as a single parent, but she was always concerned for our well being when my mother remarried. The first time I went to Disneyland was in 1956 when she and my Uncle Vic took me and my sister.
I was but a young girl when I started watching my grandmother's living style diminish from owning a home on Beaton Way in the city of Orange, California to her final living quarters in an assisted living home for the aged where she died peacefully in her sleep, just as she always wanted to. Her belongings went from a full house of furniture to what ever could fit in a night stand next to her bed at the home. I was fortunate to be given many of her things through the years. I visited her frequently for the last 30 years of her life as I watched her life change from independent to dependent. She had to be put in a home because her muscles atrophied for lack of walking and my mother could no longer help her, being elderly herself. Why didn't I help? I was having my own financial disasters.
I and my youngest daughter visited her on the Christmas before she passed away. She was different. She seemed more at peace with herself, not depressed or feeling lonely. She said to me she realized she had been a real pain to everyone and was sorry. She grew a smile as I reassured her she was not a pain (though she really was). She smiled and went to sleep. Four days short of one month later she was gone.
It was my blessing to seal my grandmother to her husband (my grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Shapley, who died 2 years before I was born), and to have her four sons, 3 of them who passed away before she did, sealed to her and my grandfather. I know you were there watching me, "Grandma Van". I felt the over flowing joy from you when the tears ran down my face. I love you.
******** ©Copyrights *******
These are my family photos that I have in my possession by bequeathment in will or I photographed them (where applicable). You may NOT re-post them on any other web site nor publish them without my written permission. You may, however, copy them for your own personal, offline, home use ONLY. The tombstone photos of the originators are also included with these copyrights.
She was married to Benjamin Harrison Shapley and had 6 children: Robert (died at the age of 6 months of pneumonia with complications of spinal meningitis), Betty, Irving, Francis, Victor and Arlene.
Her and Benjamin divorced in April 1936. She married Eugene Riefler in September 1936. They divorced sometime between 1943-1947. She moved to Vallejo, California sometime between 1944 and 1947. She then married Gerald Eugen Van Auken. They divorced sometime after 1953 but before 1955. She moved to Los Angeles sometime around 1955 as that is when my mother and her 3 daughters came from New York to live with her in Los Angeles. Ellen then moved to Orange, Orange, California on Beaton Way, a home she bought on her own sometime around 1956-1957. Her daughter moved in with her around 1957 with her 3 daughters and one son was born while she lived there. Between 1959-1960, Ellen had to sell her home and moved into an apartment. From that time on she lived in about 3 different apartments, then with her daughter for about 5 years and then spent the last 5 years of her life in a nursing home.
She told me she was raised on a farm but the 1920 US Census shows otherwise. She had to care for her sickly mother, Harriet "Hattie" (Hartwell) Van Dusen, all through her teen years until she got married.
Her father, Robert Elmer Van Dusen, remarried, to her disliking, a woman young enough to be her sister, Viola. The story of Viola was that she was an orphan and therefore there were no records on her. More recent her maiden name was found and possibly a previous husband. Confirmation of this has not been found as yet.
A couple of the jobs she had were: bus driver for USO during WWII, busing military men from base to town; a restaurant dishwasher in 1940; a dry cleaner agent in 1950; and a dietitian from about 1956-1960 at the Orange County Hospital in California, now known as UCI Medical, until she was let go at the age of 55 yrs old because she dropped a bowl of hot oatmeal on her foot that caused third degree burns, laying her up for three weeks. When she went to return to work, at the hospital, they decline to keep her. She never worked again.
She was a stern grandmother, while helping my mother as a single parent, but she was always concerned for our well being when my mother remarried. The first time I went to Disneyland was in 1956 when she and my Uncle Vic took me and my sister.
I was but a young girl when I started watching my grandmother's living style diminish from owning a home on Beaton Way in the city of Orange, California to her final living quarters in an assisted living home for the aged where she died peacefully in her sleep, just as she always wanted to. Her belongings went from a full house of furniture to what ever could fit in a night stand next to her bed at the home. I was fortunate to be given many of her things through the years. I visited her frequently for the last 30 years of her life as I watched her life change from independent to dependent. She had to be put in a home because her muscles atrophied for lack of walking and my mother could no longer help her, being elderly herself. Why didn't I help? I was having my own financial disasters.
I and my youngest daughter visited her on the Christmas before she passed away. She was different. She seemed more at peace with herself, not depressed or feeling lonely. She said to me she realized she had been a real pain to everyone and was sorry. She grew a smile as I reassured her she was not a pain (though she really was). She smiled and went to sleep. Four days short of one month later she was gone.
It was my blessing to seal my grandmother to her husband (my grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Shapley, who died 2 years before I was born), and to have her four sons, 3 of them who passed away before she did, sealed to her and my grandfather. I know you were there watching me, "Grandma Van". I felt the over flowing joy from you when the tears ran down my face. I love you.
******** ©Copyrights *******
These are my family photos that I have in my possession by bequeathment in will or I photographed them (where applicable). You may NOT re-post them on any other web site nor publish them without my written permission. You may, however, copy them for your own personal, offline, home use ONLY. The tombstone photos of the originators are also included with these copyrights.
She was cremated and her ashes were spread around a rose bush in the front entrance to El Toro Memorial Park Cemetery. She wanted to be cremated for fear of the bugs that might eat her if she were buried. She also wanted her ashes thrown into the ocean, however, there wasn't funds to accommodate that request so a rose bush was selected instead. Iris was her favorite flower.
She was married to Benjamin Harrison Shapley and had 6 children: Robert (died at the age of 6 months of pneumonia with complications of spinal meningitis), Betty, Irving, Francis, Victor and Arlene.
Her and Benjamin divorced in April 1936. She married Eugene Riefler in September 1936. They divorced sometime between 1943-1947. She moved to Vallejo, California sometime between 1944 and 1947. She then married Gerald Eugen Van Auken. They divorced sometime after 1953 but before 1955. She moved to Los Angeles sometime around 1955 as that is when my mother and her 3 daughters came from New York to live with her in Los Angeles. Ellen then moved to Orange, Orange, California on Beaton Way, a home she bought on her own sometime around 1956-1957. Her daughter moved in with her around 1957 with her 3 daughters and one son was born while she lived there. Between 1959-1960, Ellen had to sell her home and moved into an apartment. From that time on she lived in about 3 different apartments, then with her daughter for about 5 years and then spent the last 5 years of her life in a nursing home.
She told me she was raised on a farm but the 1920 US Census shows otherwise. She had to care for her sickly mother, Harriet "Hattie" (Hartwell) Van Dusen, all through her teen years until she got married.
Her father, Robert Elmer Van Dusen, remarried, to her disliking, a woman young enough to be her sister, Viola. The story of Viola was that she was an orphan and therefore there were no records on her. More recent her maiden name was found and possibly a previous husband. Confirmation of this has not been found as yet.
A couple of the jobs she had were: bus driver for USO during WWII, busing military men from base to town; a restaurant dishwasher in 1940; a dry cleaner agent in 1950; and a dietitian from about 1956-1960 at the Orange County Hospital in California, now known as UCI Medical, until she was let go at the age of 55 yrs old because she dropped a bowl of hot oatmeal on her foot that caused third degree burns, laying her up for three weeks. When she went to return to work, at the hospital, they decline to keep her. She never worked again.
She was a stern grandmother, while helping my mother as a single parent, but she was always concerned for our well being when my mother remarried. The first time I went to Disneyland was in 1956 when she and my Uncle Vic took me and my sister.
I was but a young girl when I started watching my grandmother's living style diminish from owning a home on Beaton Way in the city of Orange, California to her final living quarters in an assisted living home for the aged where she died peacefully in her sleep, just as she always wanted to. Her belongings went from a full house of furniture to what ever could fit in a night stand next to her bed at the home. I was fortunate to be given many of her things through the years. I visited her frequently for the last 30 years of her life as I watched her life change from independent to dependent. She had to be put in a home because her muscles atrophied for lack of walking and my mother could no longer help her, being elderly herself. Why didn't I help? I was having my own financial disasters.
I and my youngest daughter visited her on the Christmas before she passed away. She was different. She seemed more at peace with herself, not depressed or feeling lonely. She said to me she realized she had been a real pain to everyone and was sorry. She grew a smile as I reassured her she was not a pain (though she really was). She smiled and went to sleep. Four days short of one month later she was gone.
It was my blessing to seal my grandmother to her husband (my grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Shapley, who died 2 years before I was born), and to have her four sons, 3 of them who passed away before she did, sealed to her and my grandfather. I know you were there watching me, "Grandma Van". I felt the over flowing joy from you when the tears ran down my face. I love you.
******** ©Copyrights *******
These are my family photos that I have in my possession by bequeathment in will or I photographed them (where applicable). You may NOT re-post them on any other web site nor publish them without my written permission. You may, however, copy them for your own personal, offline, home use ONLY. The tombstone photos of the originators are also included with these copyrights.
She was married to Benjamin Harrison Shapley and had 6 children: Robert (died at the age of 6 months of pneumonia with complications of spinal meningitis), Betty, Irving, Francis, Victor and Arlene.
Her and Benjamin divorced in April 1936. She married Eugene Riefler in September 1936. They divorced sometime between 1943-1947. She moved to Vallejo, California sometime between 1944 and 1947. She then married Gerald Eugen Van Auken. They divorced sometime after 1953 but before 1955. She moved to Los Angeles sometime around 1955 as that is when my mother and her 3 daughters came from New York to live with her in Los Angeles. Ellen then moved to Orange, Orange, California on Beaton Way, a home she bought on her own sometime around 1956-1957. Her daughter moved in with her around 1957 with her 3 daughters and one son was born while she lived there. Between 1959-1960, Ellen had to sell her home and moved into an apartment. From that time on she lived in about 3 different apartments, then with her daughter for about 5 years and then spent the last 5 years of her life in a nursing home.
She told me she was raised on a farm but the 1920 US Census shows otherwise. She had to care for her sickly mother, Harriet "Hattie" (Hartwell) Van Dusen, all through her teen years until she got married.
Her father, Robert Elmer Van Dusen, remarried, to her disliking, a woman young enough to be her sister, Viola. The story of Viola was that she was an orphan and therefore there were no records on her. More recent her maiden name was found and possibly a previous husband. Confirmation of this has not been found as yet.
A couple of the jobs she had were: bus driver for USO during WWII, busing military men from base to town; a restaurant dishwasher in 1940; a dry cleaner agent in 1950; and a dietitian from about 1956-1960 at the Orange County Hospital in California, now known as UCI Medical, until she was let go at the age of 55 yrs old because she dropped a bowl of hot oatmeal on her foot that caused third degree burns, laying her up for three weeks. When she went to return to work, at the hospital, they decline to keep her. She never worked again.
She was a stern grandmother, while helping my mother as a single parent, but she was always concerned for our well being when my mother remarried. The first time I went to Disneyland was in 1956 when she and my Uncle Vic took me and my sister.
I was but a young girl when I started watching my grandmother's living style diminish from owning a home on Beaton Way in the city of Orange, California to her final living quarters in an assisted living home for the aged where she died peacefully in her sleep, just as she always wanted to. Her belongings went from a full house of furniture to what ever could fit in a night stand next to her bed at the home. I was fortunate to be given many of her things through the years. I visited her frequently for the last 30 years of her life as I watched her life change from independent to dependent. She had to be put in a home because her muscles atrophied for lack of walking and my mother could no longer help her, being elderly herself. Why didn't I help? I was having my own financial disasters.
I and my youngest daughter visited her on the Christmas before she passed away. She was different. She seemed more at peace with herself, not depressed or feeling lonely. She said to me she realized she had been a real pain to everyone and was sorry. She grew a smile as I reassured her she was not a pain (though she really was). She smiled and went to sleep. Four days short of one month later she was gone.
It was my blessing to seal my grandmother to her husband (my grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Shapley, who died 2 years before I was born), and to have her four sons, 3 of them who passed away before she did, sealed to her and my grandfather. I know you were there watching me, "Grandma Van". I felt the over flowing joy from you when the tears ran down my face. I love you.
******** ©Copyrights *******
These are my family photos that I have in my possession by bequeathment in will or I photographed them (where applicable). You may NOT re-post them on any other web site nor publish them without my written permission. You may, however, copy them for your own personal, offline, home use ONLY. The tombstone photos of the originators are also included with these copyrights.
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