Ellen Woodruff

Ellen Loraine Woodruff, age 53 years of South Bend, Indiana and formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 5:19 a.m. on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 at Hospice House in South Bend following a brief illness.

She was born on March 24, 1959 in Niles to Walter G. and
Ruth E. (Yetter) Woodruff. She was graduated from Niles High School in 1977, and earned a Bachelors degree from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan and a Masters degree in early childhood education from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She has lived in South Bend since 1992.

Ellen was always employed teaching children, most recently at the Marshall-Starke Schools, and previously at the Children’s Program of the YWCA of Northern Indiana, and at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.

She was a member of the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church in South Bend. She was on the founding board of the Vertias Academy Charter School in South Bend. While her life was devoted to caring for children, her greatest joy was caring for her own children.

She is survived by her daughter, Jessica Woodruff and son, Jacob Woodruff, both of South Bend; and by a sister, Martha (& Charles) Price of Bristol, Indiana, and their children, Katie and Zachary Price.

The funeral service for Ellen Woodruff will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 4, 2013 at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, 115 South Frances Street, South Bend with the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street, Niles on Thursday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., and at Sunnyside Church beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

Contributions in memory of Ellen may be made to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, 46637.

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