Ellen Ann Brandes

Born 16 July 1980 in Santa Clara, California.

Died 3 March 2026 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

Beloved daughter of Cheryl and Jim Brandes.

Beloved sister to Dani Brandes and Katy Bright.

Beloved sister-in-law of Nick Pierce and Eric Bright.

Beloved Auntie of Elena and Ezra Bright.

Loved by special caregivers Tim Olson and Dawn Merry.

Welcomed to heaven by grandparents Evie and Jim Brandes, Pat Whalen, and Ralph Wolf.

Ellen was born in Santa Clara, California on July 16, 1980.

Ellen was not delivered in good health. She was placed in an Intensive Care Nursery, and her lungs were suctioned hourly. She had her first seizure at twelve hours old. The doctors said her chances were fair if she survived the first twenty-four. In that first twenty-four hours, Ellen was visited by a priest, who both baptized her and gave her the blessing of the sick (commonly known as last rites). Ellen did survive, and spent the next two weeks in the ICN. 

The plan was to take Ellen back to Minnesota, where there were better social services and big families for support. Back in Minnesota, the family (now including a little sister, Dani) moved into a house in south Minneapolis. They found excellent physicians here, who not only refrained from telling them that Ellen should be institutionalized (as the physicians did in California) but pointed them to a day program at United Cerebral Palsy. Jim and Cheryl made lasting friends there, as they were included in many outings and other activities. 

At five years old Ellen graduated into the public school system. In Minneapolis, that meant Michael Dowling school, which was close to home and a very good school, but it only had disabled students. In the western suburbs, disabled students in district 287 attended school in a much more inclusionary environment. 

In order to enroll, the family needed to move to the western suburbs and Ellen’s parents decided to build a house, choosing one with a bedroom on the main floor, widening the doors for her wheelchair, and adding an accessible shower. Ellen moved with her family (now with another little sister, Katy) into the house in Robbinsdale at age seven and lived there the rest of her life. 

Soon after moving to Robbinsdale, Tim Olson entered Ellen’s life as a personal care attendant. Tim and Ellen delighted in and cherished one another. Tim enjoyed singing to Ellen, playing with her, and taking her for walks. Ellen was also blessed with Dawn Merry, another PCA who cared for her for many years. Dawn stayed with Ellen for over thirty years, and Tim for over thirty-five! Amazing people.

When Ellen was 15, the decision was made to get her a gastrostomy for tube feeding. A combination of feeding by tube and by mouth got Ellen to a healthy weight and she started being more interested in eating and enjoying food. She especially liked sweets, of course, but didn’t like temperature extremes. So the first spoon of ice cream made her wince, but she soon opened her mouth for more. What a pleasure it was to see her enjoy food, and eat a good amount. None of us ever lost the feeling of satisfaction we felt when Ellen ate well. For the last few years of her life, Dani prepared her food and the meals were both tasty and healthy.

With the sudden weight gain, her scoliosis increased and her spine was bent to almost 45 degrees. A spinal fusion was required. Ellen had rods placed on either side of her spine and wired to her vertebrae. The operation was a success: Her back was almost perfectly straight and the rods required no attention for the rest of her life. The spinal fusion was performed at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, which accommodated many of Ellen’s special needs.

When Ellen turned 22, she had to leave the public school system. Of the several choices available, Ellen was enrolled in Midwest Special Services because they were less focused on vocational training and more on recreation – definitely Ellen’s style! At MSS, Ellen got to enjoy outings to parks and museums and even boat rides! And there was the daily entertainment of riding the bus. 

Ellen enjoyed being in a moving conveyance, whatever it was: cars and buses were great, but rowboats, pontoon boats, and canoes were even better! Out in the sun and in the breeze was her preference, especially if there were good sounds like splashing water and bird calls. 

Some sounds never got old. The ratcheting sound of a contestant spinning the Wheel of Fortune was always good for a laugh. 

Saint Paul Saints games were also a favorite. The hawkers and entertainers that worked the stands usually had a kind word or even a magic trick for Ellen.

People (and dogs) liked Ellen wherever she went. It wasn’t unusual to have someone step out of a crowd and say hi to Ellen by name, then ask Mom and Dad who they are. And even dogs that were described as mean would want to lick Ellen’s hands and rub against them.

Ellen brought out the best in everyone. The family attended county fairs, and the carnies would let Ellen go on the rides for free. When her dad would try to pay for his spot, the carnie would say “You’re with her!” and at the end of the ride would tell them to stay seated for another round.

We always said that Ellen had the best general health of any of us, but there were exceptions. When she was 25, she had a severe pneumonia that put her in the hospital for sixteen nights and resulted in thoracic surgery. In the middle of her hospital stay her great uncle, Father John Brandes, visited to give her the blessing of the sick. We don’t know what he whispered in her ear, but she started improving from that point and left the hospital soon after.

In the last couple of years Ellen’s health began to decline, and she was hospitalized for pneumonia a half dozen times in 2024 and 2025. Each hospital stay only lasted a few days. It was determined that the pneumonia was being caused by aspirating food, and she went to strictly tube feedings. We were all saddened that we could no longer feed her comfort foods. 

At the end of January 2026 Ellen had an aspiration incident that resulted in her requiring a ride to the hospital in an ambulance. Once again she was put on antibiotics, but this time she did not recover as she had in the past. Her condition worsened and she was released to home hospice for palliative care on St. Valentine’s Day. Her sisters took time off of work and Katy came from Albuquerque to be with her. On the morning of March Third, Ellen died peacefully with Katy and her Mom at her side. They were joined within a few minutes by Dad, Dani, and Tim. 

Her parents never expected Ellen to outlive them, even as she outlived her peers. Her family wanted to care for her to the end of her days, yet when the moment came it was shocking and devastating. 

Ellen rocked our world. She taught us responsibility, acceptance, patience, unrepressed joy, unconditional love and how to enjoy simple pleasures. She will live on in our hearts and our actions. 

Please join us as we celebrate Ellen’s life: Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 Monday, March 30, at Sacred Heart Church in Robbinsdale, with visitation for one hour before and a light lunch afterward.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Midwest Special Services. www.mssmn.org/donate