Ellen Swift

Ellen Betty Swift was born in Rome, New York July 16, 1940, the only child of Cotaldo Occhipinti and Helen Sommers Occhipinti. She was a much loved child and felt very close to her father. She loved watching him cook and loved to eat his special homemade spaghetti. Ellen's mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was just 12 years old and she found that very difficult to deal with as a young girl. When her father passed away, Ellen moved her mother to a nursing home in Denver, where she was living at the time, so she would be closer to her. At age seventeen, she met and married her first husband, Bruce E. Stacey, Sr. and moved with him to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where their first son, Bruce E. Stacey, Jr. was born. The small family moved to Manilla while her husband continued to serve in the United States Air Force. While in the Philippines, their second son, William Roger Stacey was born. Ellen stayed very busy taking care of her two young sons. After her first marriage ended, Ellen met and married the love of her life, Joe Louis Swift, on July 31, 1968 at Central Baptist Church in Denver Colorado. They had many happy years together and after Joe retired, they enjoyed going to baseball games, vacationing in the motor home and visiting loved ones from New York to California. After a valiant battle with cancer, Joe passed away on December 4, 2010. Ellen was a hard worker from the time she was a very young girl and making money was very important to her. In her early years, she worked as a waitress and then a licensed cosmetologist. After that, she worked in the trucking industry as a long-haul truck driver (her CB handle was Queen of Hearts). She also worked for a freight brokerage company. Feeling confident that she could run her own company, she started Colorado Terminal Services, Inc., a freight brokerage company, and she worked diligently to create a successful and thriving business. In 2009 Ellen hired her grandson, Jonathan Stacey ("Big Jon"), to work with her and as her health declined, he became her caregiver in addition to running her business and taking care of her home. Jon describes his grandma or "GG" as he often called her, as a 'fire cracker'. He said if she wanted something, no one was going to get in her way. Jon will tell you that his grandma was a fighter – she had very difficult health issues the last few years of her life and where others may have just given up, Ellen's strong will kept her going for as long as she could hang on. Ellen was a member of the Central Baptist Church and enjoyed serving in The Thera Pompeii Club that did fund raising to provide scholarships. She was generous with her donations to the church and often helped those who were in need. She loved the Lord and she loved the friends she made through her church association. Trust was very important to Ellen – if she trusted you, she would open up her heart. Ellen enjoyed spending time with her family and she loved it when they came from out of town to visit. She was proud of their accomplishments and loved to hear about what everyone was doing. She enjoyed phone calls and visits with her sons as often as they could come see her. They loved going to dinner, watching movies and going to ball games. Her son, Bill, would ride with her when she was a truck driver and she taught him how to drive an eighteen wheeler. Her grandchildren loved to visit Grandma and they remember a trip to the Denver Zoo, Six Flags and Rockies baseball games. They were always happy to go back to her home for a barbecue or a plate of her famous spaghetti. Ellen also loved to watch the Yankees; she was an avid Yankee fan and had the memorabilia to prove it! Ellen always had a dog or two that she loved like children. Her dog, Bo, was by her side night and day. She also had many hobbies over the years and enjoyed crafts and jewelry making. She loved playing computer games and watching movies and boy did she love to shop! She practically earned her own parking place at Ross! She loved to wear beautiful clothes, and have her hair, nails and makeup looking just right. Ellen was never afraid to speak her mind - everyone recognized her passion, her strong will and independent nature. Ellen will be missed by her family and friends who are grateful for all she has done for them. Ellen departed this life on September 8, 2015 at the Collier Hospice Center in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory include her two sons, Bruce (Kris) Stacey of South Jordan, UT and William (Joanne) Stacey of Malad City, ID and her grandchildren: Jonathan, Stephanie, Michelle and Travis and other relatives, cousins and dear friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 9/14/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 9/14/2015 at 5:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 3370 Ivy Street, Denver, CO