Ellen Elizabeth Wing
YARMOUTH- After months of hard work Ellen Wing passed away on December 16, 2016 with her amazing loving family by her side. From the moment she was born in Portland on June 1, 1963, she wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by love. Her parents, Joseph and Ruth Burke, and her siblings, Joseph Jr. Burke, Mary Burke Smith, and Ruth-Ann Burke Cyr , helped to build the strong family foundation that sustained her.
Ellen grew up in South Freeport, attending schools in both Freeport and Portland, Maine. She graduated from Catherine McAuley High School with honors in 1981.
At the age of 17, Ellen married the love of her life, Dale Wing, and for the last 36 years they have worked together to create the beautiful family they cherish. Their children Elizabeth, Jennifer and Alexis were the center of Ellen’s world. Camping trips to the islands of Casco Bay and the Moosehead Region, sometimes with her in-laws, were the highlights of vacations. Equally as celebrated were the times spent at home -- gardening, yard projects, even just having a cookout and relaxing on the front porch were some of the most cherished of Ellen’s life.
The holidays, especially Christmas, were important to her because it meant time with her daughters and Dale. Cooking, toasting, laughing, and being together brought her her greatest joy.
Her life and love with Dale and their daughters were what mattered most to Ellen. Being a mom who supported her girls to be whoever they wanted to be was most important to her, as was working to provide for her family, whether catching lobsters alongside Dale, coaching field hockey, or working to support a soccer program. Ellen was her daughters’ greatest fan and her husband’s greatest supporter.
Working at Freeport High School for 15 years allowed Ellen to transition to her final career as an independent contractor with Jostens, a yearbook company. In that capacity, she not only worked in schools but also helped students record specific moments of achievement in their lives through yearbook pages.
Ellen believed that creating and celebrating memories was important for all, as was having a variety of people in your life. Recently she shared with Dale that she felt like people were like wonderful cookies. Some were fancy and were to be enjoyed with tea. They tasted okay, looked fabulous, served a special purpose and brought memory in our lives. Others were just scrumptious with a big glass of milk, but having varieties was important – warm, soft molasses, simple chocolate chip, or a fancy decorated Christmas cookie.
Ellen’s wish was to have a variety of cookies in life, enjoying each for who and what they are. Life is short, so celebrate it and cherish it rather than let it control you or manage you, was her credo. Throughout her life, Ellen was known for her kindness and compassion, her infectious laugh and her love of life in all its forms.
Ellen was close with her mother-in-law, Catherine A. Plowman, who died in 2003. Ellen is survived by her loving husband Dale Wing of Yarmouth, her beloved daughters Elizabeth “Biz” Wing of Portland, Alexis Wing of Yarmouth, and Jennifer Wing Eastman of Portland; her son-in-law Jeff Eastman and her granddaughter Alida Rose Eastman, whom she adored; her parents and siblings; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.
A celebration of Ellen Wing’s life will be held Thursday, December 22 at 3 p.m. at First Parish Church UCC in Yarmouth.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers donations to the Ellen E. Wing Memorial Fund may be sent to 44 Pinewood Road, Yarmouth, Maine 04096.