april 12, 1951 - june 17, 1996

Ellen Gordon was born in Rochester, New York, the first child of Edith "Selma" and Eli Gordon. At forty-five, she passed away at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey after a six-year battle with breast cancer. 

After losing a loved one, many of us process the loss independently. Grieving, we visit our memories over and over. Years pass and our memories become like polished stones. They become, in a way, sacred and immutable. 

Ellen was my mother for one third of her life, and it felt like I knew every part of her. But of course, there are others who knew her and harbor their own polished-stone memories. There were parts I didn't see. 

Ellen's short life had great meaning, and those lucky enough to have known Ellen will never forget her. My hope for this site is that those who knew my mother, even if indirectly or from afar, will come forward and share experiences: what you did together, what you noticed or wondered about, how she made you feel, or anything at all. If we approach grief with open hearts and a desire to see and know as much as possible, our long-held memories — now colored by perspective — can expand. In turn, our feelings have room to evolve until eventually, maybe, we can hear our beloved's name and smile.