Ellen’s heart was too big for this world. From the time she was little, she felt everything deeply — joy, sadness, anger, excitement — and she never hid it. She was shy but silly, with a quick wit and the ability to always joke. When Ellen was mad, you knew it; when she was happy, you knew it; and especially when she loved you, you ALWAYS knew it. That openness was one of her most beautiful qualities.

Ellen had a thoughtful, creative spirit. She loved doodling, braiding hair, and spending time alone listening to music and resetting. Growing up, she was an incredible soccer defender, and she carried that determination into other parts of her life. She adored animals, especially dogs, and had a loyal companion in her pup, Sugar. Music was an anchor for her — especially rap and R&B (always carrying the belief 2pac was still alive). She connected deeply with lyrics, often quoting their raw honesty about struggle, love, and resilience. She also found that same depth and beauty in film; her favorite movie was Avatar, which reflected her appreciation for nature, community, and the softer side of life.

Ellen often found connection and comfort in anything nostalgic, and food was no exception. She cherished family recipes and familiar comfort foods: Grandma Kate’s brownies, crepes with syrup and powdered sugar, aebleskivers, Grandma Gin’s hamburger dip with a black cherry Shasta, and most of all, her mom’s roast and potatoes.

Ellen was a hard worker, never afraid to step into tough spaces like eventually finding joy in construction and manufacturing, eventually working into quality assurance where she truly found her place. She operated forklifts and excavators and especially loved her role as a quality assurance manager in prefabrication manufacturing. She had hopes of earning her CDL and making a career of traveling.

Ellen’s proudest role and greatest gift to her family and to this world was her daughter, Izzy. In the midst of addiction, she made the selfless choice to have her parents adopt Izzy, ensuring that every need and want was met. Even when addiction made being physically present difficult, Izzy was always at the center of her heart. She never stopped checking in, never stopped loving, and never stopped wanting her daughter to feel surrounded by nothing but deep, unconditional love. Izzy was Ellen’s anchor and her reason to keep fighting — the light she held onto through her darkest battles. Every step forward, every attempt at recovery, was fueled by her love for Izzy.

Ellen’s life was marked by both great struggle and incredible strength. She battled with substance abuse from the young age of 14, but her resilience showed in her constant determination to try again. Time and again, she picked herself up, sought help, and worked toward sobriety. She never pretended to know better; she was humble, teachable, and unafraid to apologize. Her willingness to keep fighting, to keep feeling, and to keep believing in God’s love was a testament to her courage.

The last three years gave her family profound hope. She found sobriety, showed up with her whole personality shining, and became part of daily life again. She lived with her parents, spent precious time with Izzy, and reminded her family just how much they had been missing. Though relapse came again, she entered treatment on her own and had just completed an inpatient program. She even chose to stay longer to give back to the program and prepare herself for release. She was dreaming of her future, set to move into her own apartment next week, talking about marriage, and working toward stability. For those who loved her, those last few years were a priceless gift.

Ellen is survived by her parents, Ann and Bruce; her daughter, Isabelle (Izzy) Gladwell; her siblings Emily (Mike) Crowton, Charlie (Kaye) Gladwell, Daniel (Jennie) Gladwell, Nathan (Melissa) Gladwell, and Lizzy (Brian) Denkers; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all adored her. She was welcomed into heaven by her Grandma Kate, Great-Aunt Gloria, Grandma Gin, and Grandpas Gorm and Lou, who surely met her at the gates with open arms.

Ellen’s family will hold a celebration of her beautiful life on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Leavitt’s Mortuary, 836 36th Street, Ogden. In her memory, we invite you to do what Ellen always tried to do: hug your family, love them out loud, and make sure the people in your life know they are cared for, no matter what. Addiction can create distance, but love closes the gap — and Ellen’s love never stopped.

Her infectious smile, her big hugs, and her open ‘I love you’s will stay with us forever. She gave us the gift of feeling deeply, of laughing freely, of showing love without hesitation and of knowing it’s always okay to ask for help. Though her passing leaves a void in our lives until we meet again in heaven, we are endlessly proud of her.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.leavittsmortuary.com