Back to Middle-earth Month

I attended the Celebration of Life for lbilover yesterday, and it was lovely. She passed on November 24, 2024. It was held in the library in northern New Jersey at which she worked for many years, and there were 40-50 relatives, friends, and co-workers there from all over. Folks from her beloved Deerhound community also came, as did students from local schools who met Ellen when she brought whippet Winston -- “Fastest Dog in the USA 2023” -- to meet them. Ellen’s passions were so numerous – nature photography, sighthounds, education, workers’ rights (she was a proud President of her Library Union), hiking, bird watching, training and showing dogs, and of course writing. Her sister Lisa presented a slideshow of Ellen’s life, accompanied by music from “The Fellowship of the Ring” in honor of her longtime passion for Tolkien and her many extraordinary stories and friends around the world. Several of us in the audience, as well as folks watching the service via Zoom, spoke about their love and respect for Ellen. I spoke about our tight-knit fanfiction community, as well as my delight and astonishment when meeting her gentle Deerhound Gandalf for the first time – he was so tall he looked me right in the eyes.

I brought my Rena, and there were four other doggies in attendance including Ellen’s whippets Kivrin and Clementine, who were adopted by loving families. Her Winston and Deerhound Wren had also found good homes, as had tortoises Fred and Ginger.

When the service was over, we gathered at tables or around a buffet area to talk talk talk more about Ellen and what she meant to us. I especially enjoyed my conversation with a lady who had read Bilbo’s moving poem “I Sit Beside the Fire and Think” during the service. I always get emotional reading it myself, and hearing it read this way created a wash of emotions.

I enjoyed Rena’s companionship on the way home (about an hour’s drive). :)

Ellen’s nephew said he’d send out a notice if he’s able to get the Zoom presentation online, so if he does I’ll let folks know how to access it.

Namárië, dear Ellen!