Grateful for Hope. We are grateful for having known her....
Grateful for Hope - who many of us knew as Ellen. What a great name she chose. It's been hours since greatauntoftriplets shared the news with us of her passing. I feel no better about it. She, like just about all DUers, is someone I've never met, never spoken to. On DU2, we modded together, and it was she, with others of course, who eased me into the job and made me feel welcomed. We modded together for a long time, and shared some terms on MIRT. Mostly, we shared tiny and challenging elements of our lives - just to reach out - struggles each of us had with health and well being of our loved ones over the years. It created a bond, and though the bond lives on in spirit, it is gone in reality; there will be no more MIRT terms together, occasional DU mails, just to say hello, ask how things are.
In my 10 years on DU, I've seen (a few) relatively serene times, and mostly, (often appropriately) turbulent times as our big tent spars and discusses and argues. But in reality, aren't we all here to, in some way, try to ensure a better life for all of us - for everyone - through fair policies, holding politicians' feet to the fire to support those policies which we feel may be lacking, or are needed?
Ellen set a great example for showing passion for her beliefs, but also decency to all she came in contact with (as far as I could tell, anyway - I can't claim of course to have read every post she was involved in). If I take anything from her life, and this most devastating, way-too -young passing, it is to be reminded of what we have in common - life, and principles - and to try to add, not subtract, to dialogue, issues and relationships.
Once, in a Du mail message, she called me a sweet heart. It made my day - I don't remember what I said, but it seemed important to me at the time - and now, it feels even more important - that I could figure out how to touch someone with just words.
I don't even know what all of this is supposed to mean...maybe because our family has suffered loss of our own fairly recently - maybe it is my age, my mood, the music I am listening to. But in 10 years, I've gotten to recognize lots of names here, and some of you have become "internet friends" for lack of a better term. One is now gone....and it is remarkable how much of a hole it leaves.
I know we've lost quite a few members of our community lately - they are all special - it is just that this loss hit me hardest, because our paths crossed most often.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I did not know her........until now.
Thank you for that.
What I do know is that you're speaking the truth about internet friendships. I have several friends here and it's true: any such loss leaves a huge hole.
My dear friends Redstone, khaskha, and MiddleFingerMom are all gone now.........but they still live in my heart, my mind, my own self. I was lucky in that I got to talk to all of them from time to time, but of course, that means their loss is much larger.
So I grieve, and rejoice all at the same time.
She cared a lot about DU & its members.
She saw that there is a person behind each OP who deserves the hosts' fair & thoughtful consideration. She didn't want to see posts locked as a result of hosts' blind adherence to the SoP, which, as written, leaves room for exceptions to be made, requiring the hosts' own judgment.
We were lucky to have her.
very thoughtful and always kind. With the strong political feelings that many on this site have it is not common to find that type of personality. Her passing is definitely a loss to the Host/MIRT arenas. 
Thanks.
your thoughts on our great loss here at DU and also what it should mean to belong to this community would probably make GratefulForHope smile. Thank you for this post!
Solidarity.
and our others who have passed on.
for her.....and
And one to you...for such a thoughtful post of your personal memories of her.
What a great lady she was and how well she got along with others and expressed her opinion when she felt it necessary. I hope that her family and friends will find comfort in the knowledge that she was well respected and well liked and well though of.
Ellen is moderating in Heaven with another mod who pass years ago Kendra. Save me a seat guys cuz I am soon to follow.
Five more days to serve, I hope she's up there sending good vibes.
