Born in Columbia, South Carolina on July 28, 1933. A resident of South Elgin, Illinois, Ellen passed into eternal rest on November 9, 2017, surrounded by loving family. Ellen acquired her life-long curiosity and fascination with the natural sciences and religious studies from her late father, naturalist and Christian pastor Arthur B Kennedy. Her late mother, Glenna E (James) Kennedy, imbued Ellen with a love of education, hard work and family ties. All these interests were interwoven into her 84 years of life. She was a shining example of integrity, generosity and love to her 8 children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, her church friends, co-workers and neighbors, and anyone in need. Ellen is survived by a large family. Ellen's children are very grateful for the dedicated care Angel provided to her grandmother this year. Ellen graduated with a BA in Biology in 1955 from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri and studied Human Development and Christian Education at Eastern Baptist Seminary in 1956. This education formed the foundation of her lifelong quest to better understand how the theory of evolution describes God's Creation. After teaching at the high school and elementary school level in New York and Illinois, she served as a licensed social worker with the Elgin Mental Health Center, guiding residents to find appropriate levels of supportive housing, retiring in 1991. Travel was driven by a passion for understanding geological processes, especially tectonic plate movement and the formation of granite. Ellen recently explored volcanoes in Hawaii, and the San Andreas fault in Northern California. Family hikes were replete with botany lessons, pond water investigation, and rock collecting for further study. Other adventures helped Ellen understand her family heritage, which she shared with the Elgin Genealogical Society. Ellen seemed to love every person, every creature, every plant and every rock that she encountered, with the possible exception of Japanese beetles infesting her garden. Ellen actively engaged in the First Congregational Church of Elgin, serving the hungry and refugees, caring for babies and children, and supporting renovation of the historic sanctuary. A celebration of life and reception will be held on January 6, 2018 beginning at 11AM at First Congregational Church, 256 E Chicago Street, Elgin, IL 60120. In lieu of flowers, donations to FCC's social justice ministry will be gratefully accepted to honor Ellen's 45 years of faithful participation.

Published by Daily Herald from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27, 2017.