Ellen O'Hara

Obituary

Ellen Noelle O’Hara was tragically killed in a car accident on July 1, 2016 in West Jordan, Utah.

 

Ellen was born on June 13, 1985 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho to Dennis and Donna Bronwyn Usinger O’Hara.  She was a sister to Wendy (Steve Reichenthal), Molly, Toby (Sharole Frater), Emily (Nils Bergeson), Rory (Katrina Anderson), Teddy (Shonda Casselman) and John.  She was married to Levi Hanna from June 2011 to March 2016. 

 

She lived in Burley, Idaho until she was two when her family moved to Provo, Utah in 1987 where the family first became acquainted with the Deaf community. The local Church group welcomed her family into the Deaf community, helped them learn American Sign Language, and taught them about Deaf culture. Ellen attended the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) and the California School for the Deaf-Fremont from 1987-1996.  Her family then moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Ellen stayed until graduating from the Indiana School for the Deaf in 2003.  She attended Brigham Young University and Utah State University (USU).  At USU she completed a Master of Science degree in Deaf Education in 2010.

 

Upon graduation, she began her teaching career at the Jean Massieu School for the Deaf (JMS)-USDB, teaching fourth and first grades. She had recently been promoted to Vice-Principal/ASL Specialist for the upcoming school year.

 

Ellen constantly inspired and encouraged those around her by her example.  Though inwardly shy, Ellen made friends easily.  She was known to be silly and quirky, while gracefully connecting with people from a variety of backgrounds. 

 

Ellen was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and regularly shared her love of the Lord by both example and teaching.  She served as an institute teacher as well as a temple worker in the Salt Lake Temple.

 

Ellen was involved in the Deaf community throughout her life, continually advocating for better education for deaf children, parent involvement, and deaf rights.