Ellen Whitehead

Ellen Louise Whitehead (Pilgram), 89, of Vassar, passed away on Wednesday, March 11 at Fisher Senior Care. Born on August 3, 1936, in Roscommon to the late John and Bertha Pilgram (Leeds), Ellen grew up and graduated from school in Roscommon County. She worked as a telephone operator in Roscommon, where one of her favorite stories involved speaking with Charlton Heston.

She married Willard “Rusty” Whitehead on November 4, 1955, in Mt. Morris. Together they raised four daughters in their Millington home before moving to Vassar and later to Houghton Lake. While living in Houghton Lake, Ellen raised numerous Shetland Sheepdogs and played on pool leagues.

An avid gardener, Ellen loved being surrounded by her flowers and watching wild birds, especially hummingbirds from her porch. She cherished memories of the Jordan River Valley and the orchids she would find there with her sisters.

Ellen is survived by her daughter, Autumn (Frank) Shavrnoch of Millington, her grandchildren Amber (Stephen) Hughey, Jared Shavrnoch, and Greggory Peltonen, and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Cindy Whitehead, her granddaughter Jill Lindros, and her sisters.