Ellen Nash

BALLSTON LAKE - Ellen E. Nash, 63, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 23, 2023, after an inspiring and heroic eight year battle with glioblastoma. Those words, nor any words, could ever possibly capture the spirit and soul that was Ellen Nash. To try and capture the person who Ellen Nash would be like “trying to catch the wind.”

Living with an incurable cancer for eight years, Ellen developed a unique perspective on life. Cancer never really had a chance. On her living room wall, in letters that soared ten feet tall, Ellen had written, “The Secret of Happiness is Gratitude,” They were not a slogan to Ellen, but how Ellen lived every minute of her life. Her gratitude for family, friends and every second taught us all a lesson on how to live. Her quick wit, her smile. and most of all, her attitude, provided untold happiness in the lives of all who crossed her path in any context of life. Ellen never let trivial nonsense bother her but made a conscious decision to live every minute to the fullest. We were all deeply aware of just how blessed we were to be in her presence.   

Ellen Nash was born in Little Falls, New York, to the late Ronald Young and Barbara Young. After her family moved to Tully, NY, she graduated from Tully High in 1979. She continued her education, receiving her RN from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Utica, NY, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Utica. Ellen was extraordinarily proud of her profession, following in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps as a Public Health Nurse, she defined herself always and forever as a nurse. After working for the Visiting Nurse Association of Albany for thirty-seven years, Ellen continued to use her skills to serve others as a volunteer. 

After college, Ellen moved to Albany where she met the love of her life, Don Nash. Their thirty-seven year marriage was an unparalleled and magical union of two souls with an insatiable passion for life, who made us all believe in the power of love. Ellen’s zest for life brought a smile to everyone’s face, even after she whipped them in ping pong. Ellen was truly a force to be reckoned with when holding a paddle in hand.

Ellen enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her family and adored to her two sons, Shawn and Connor. She was an amazing mother who could always be found at any activity her boys were involved in, from hockey rinks to lacrosse fields, no matter how close, no matter how far. Ellen even took up golf later in life, with the thought, “if you can’t beat them join them,” as that’s where her husband and sons were most likely to be found.

There was nothing Ellen relished more than living on Ballston Lake and the friends on that lake that became family to her. She loved everything that came with living on the lake, especially pontoon boat rides with her beloved yellow Labrador, Willis, and maybe even a late night cocktail, or two, with her “family-friends” on the lake.

Ellen is survived by her mother, Barbara McDonough; husband, Donald; and her children, Connor (Chelsea) and Shawn (Ashley); brothers Robert Young and Richard Young (Karen) and many cousins, nieces and nephews. After receiving her diagnosis, Ellen continued to volunteer at many organizations including the Burnt Hills Backpack program, Jonesville food pantry. Services for Ellen will be held in the spring with a Celebration of Life to follow.  In lieu of flowers donations in Ellen’s name can be made to the Burnt Hills Backpack Organization: https://lhcc.churchtrac.com/give . To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .