Ellen Mari Larsen

1946 - 2010

Ellen Mari Larsen
10/10/1946 - 11/15/2010


Ellen Mari Larsen, 64, of Lincoln, California passed away peacefully on November 15, 2010 following a long illness with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Ellen was born on October 10, 1946 in Sacramento, California; the daughter of Edward and Marilyn Larsen. She spent her early years in Loomis, California and then moved with her family to Mundelein, Illinois when she was ten and lived there until she graduated from college.
Ellen attended Millikin University, graduating with a degree in psychology/sociology in 1968. She also attended the University of Nevada, Reno, graduating in 1974 with a teaching certificate. In 1978 she attended Santa Rosa Junior College where she was involved in theater, acting and directing in such productions as Bus Stop, The Fantastiks and Little Foxes.
Ellen spent most of her life in California, a place she loved dearly. She worked at KVRE - KQTE Radio in Santa Rosa from 1981-1985 where she was the Senior Account Executive. She then moved to San Francisco where she worked for the California Bankers Association from July 1985 to 1987 as the Director of Education. In October of 1987 Ellen started her own business, Cable Car Coupons, which advertised for businesses in the San Francisco area. After the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco, she decided to move to San Diego and still ran her business from that location, flying up to San Francisco when needed. Ellen always had a love for animals and while in San Diego she also started her own pet sitting service. Ellen loved to travel, visiting many countries and places throughout the United States. She especially loved Italy and Hawaii.
In 2000 Ellen retired. She moved to Lincoln to be closer to her father's family. In retirement Ellen enjoyed gardening and planting and tending to the fruit trees in her backyard.
Ellen is preceded in death by her grandparents, Alfred and Alma Larsen and Nels and Elizabeth Thybony, and her uncles, Nels Thybony and Lloyd Owen. She is also preceded in death by her four-legged children, her dog, Bandit, and her cats, Bleu, Shadow, and Roma.
She is survived by her parents, Edward and Marilyn Larsen, her sister, Nancy Witzigreuter (Larry), her brother, Chris Larsen (Dawn), her nephews Ryan and Matt Larsen, her aunts, Lorene Owen and Elaine Clawson (Mel), her uncle, Carrol Larsen (Patty), and her two cats, Lizzie and Allie.
A gathering celebrating her life will be held on Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ, 6440 King Road, Loomis, California 95650.
The family expresses their gratitude to all those who have supported Ellen, especially her uncle, Carrol Larsen, her aunt, Lorene Owen, her friends, Elinor Heller and Carole Larsen, and caregivers: Julie Stehlik and Jean Kocher.
Donations may be made to the Placer County ASPCA, the ALS Association, or the American Cancer Society.