St. Stephen’s College Mourns the Passing of Ellinor Townend
The community of St. Stephen’s College is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ellinor Townend (DD ‘95), who died last month at the age of 94. Ellinor’s association with St. Stephen’s dated back to her childhood; as noted in the College’s history book, Ellinor remembered attending convocations with her parents in the College’s original building, events which she described as “crowded and hot!” (Gayle Simonson, Ever-Widening Circles, 2008, pp.158–59). Her affiliation with the College continued—and flourished—well into her adult life. Ellinor served as the College’s first Chancellor (1990–1991), as a member and one-time Chair of the Academic Senate, as a member of the Board of Governors (2009–2018), and as a member of the Honorary Degrees Committee (2000–2009).
Alongside her involvement at the College, Ellinor was deeply committed to and engaged with The United Church of Canada, serving throughout her life on many UCC committees, causes, and initiatives. In recognition of Ellinor’s meaningful contributions to both St. Stephen’s College and The United Church of Canada, in 1995 the College conferred upon her the honorary Doctor of Divinity.
As a tribute to Ellinor, we include the honorary Doctor of Divinity citation presented by Dr. W. Clair Woodbury to the Seventy-First Convocation of St. Stephen’s College on September 27, 1995.
Mr. Chancellor and Principal, Chair of Council, members of the Council, faculty, graduands, guests and friends of St. Stephen's College. On behalf of the Council of St. Stephen's College, it is my pleasure to present to you Ellinor Ruth Townend, that you might confer upon her the degree, Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.
Ellinor was born and raised in Edmonton where she received her elementary and secondary education. Following three years at the University of Alberta in Physical Education and one year as Physical and Health Education Director at the Edmonton YWCA, Ellinor married her husband Ernie.
Ever community minded, she served as a trustee and then Board Chair of the Grande Prairie School District, then president of the Alberta School Trustees' Association.
When she returned to Edmonton, her congregation, Trinity United, asked her to be their Presbytery representative, then chair their official Board - not once but twice.
Members of the United Church Women's organization at the Presbyterial, Conference and national level know of her leadership ability. She has been a member of the executive then president of Alberta and Northwest Conference U.C.W. and president of the National Consultation of Women of the United Church.
Ellinor's other love in the church is stewardship. For Ellinor, stewardship is "everything I do after I say 'I believe." Her work as Conference Stewardship Convenor, then as Mission and Service Fund Interpreter for United Church Stewardship Services took her to congregations across Alberta and British Columbia. At any ordinary time, that would be one thing. But in 1988 she found herself called upon everywhere to be a diplomatic fence-mender, interpreting the Human Sexuality Report passed by the Victoria General Council of The United Church of Canada. Her knowledge, together with her warmth and grace, brought new insights and healing to many congregations. She has been a commissioner at six General Councils, what to her has been "a fantastic experience of the church at work."
No stranger to St. Stephen's College, Ellinor has chaired the Senate, chaired the Development Committee of the Board of Management, and for a time served as staff member for development and fund-raising.
I served with Ellinor on the Conference Overview and Visioning Committee. Her love of the church and optimism about its future is contagious. She knows the need for change, but has a wonderful ability to hold that in tension with a love and caring for her church as it is. Her faith and her church are a living part of who she is.
It is Ellinor's belief that the church has to live the gospel in ways that are meaningful today. She has raised our sights to see service and caring as the way to express our Christian faith - to be the church in today's world.
Ellinor's impact goes beyond her contribution as a leader, for when we see God acting through a woman like Ellinor, it pushes us to broaden and deepen our picture of God.
Mr. Chancellor, I present to you, on behalf of the Council of St. Stephen's College, Ellinor Ruth Townend, Servant, Optimist and Christian Leader, that you might confer upon her the degree, Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Church in Edmonton. At the direction of the family, memorial donations can be made to Trinity United Church (Edmonton, Alberta) or to St. Stephen's College (Edmonton, Alberta).
Obituary: Edmonton Journal