Norene Ellsworth, of Tulsa, OK passed away Friday February 12, 2021 after a battle with COVID at the age of 88.

Norene was born on October 5, 1932 in Blind River, Ontario, Canada to C.E. (Ted) and Helen Smith. Norene grew up in Blind River with four siblings Betty Merhar and Daniel Q. Smith (Donna) who proceeded her in death and Paul Q. Smith (Helen) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and John Q. Smith (Linda) of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. After graduating from nursing school at The Marymount School of Nursing in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Norene joined some fellow graduates and ventured away from Northern Ontario to Northern California to work as a Registered Nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. It was there that she met Merrill Leon (Lee) Ellsworth in 1955, a Kansas native who was stationed in the Navy in San Francisco. They married in 1957 in Blind River and a year later welcomed their first of four children they would have over the next six years.

Nene, as she was known by family was a kind, generous, loving person who balanced her life as a wife and a mother with the responsibilities of a 30 year career with St. Francis Hospital, retiring in 1999 as Administrative Nursing Supervisor. Family was first with Nene and she was a selfless cheerleader who led by example in her family. She was the glue that held our family together. A part of her heart always remained in Northern Ontario and the annual family trips back to reunite with her Canadian family and friends. She loved playing the piano, playing bridge with her various groups, and volunteering her time in retirement.

Norene was pre-deceased by her parents and son Mark Robert Ellsworth who died in a car accident in 2002. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lee Ellsworth of Tulsa; son Tim (Laura) of Tulsa; son Jeff (Judy) of Edmond, OK and daughter Jan Cohen of Tulsa. She leaves behind eight grandchildren: Barrett Ellsworth of Tulsa; Audrey Ellsworth Radler of Ft. Worth, TX; Grady Ellsworth of Tulsa; Emily Ellsworth of West Palm Beach, FL; Nic Ellsworth of Denver, CO; Katie Cohen of Austin, TX; Lucas Cohen of Tulsa, OK and Jacob Cohen of Oklahoma City, OK. She also felt very blessed to have nine great grandchildren.

Funeral mass will be held Thursday February 25th at 11;00 am at The Parish of Christ the King. The rosary will take place at Christ the King on Wednesday February 24th at 7:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Meals on Wheels of Tulsa at www.mealsonwheelstulsa.org/donate or the Marquette Educational Endowment Fund