Our Stories

Ellen Lu Taylor

“Not everyone has people coming to visit them. It’s comforting to know that the staff will make sure that a patient won’t die alone”

Since her birth 86 years ago, Ellen Lu Taylor has lived her life to its fullest. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia into an ethnic Chinese family, Ellen was raised in Bandung, the city where her father’s family goes back several generations.

After World War II and the 15-year Indonesian National Revolution, Ellen’s parents sent her to boarding school in Australia to continue her education.

When she finished her studies in Australia, Ellen could not go home because there was still a lot of animosity against the Chinese. So Ellen went to Bangkok, Thailand and taught there in the international school before joining her family, who had by then immigrated to the United States.

Her childhood fostered Ellen’s linguistic ability. Today she speaks English, Dutch and Indonesian fluently, as well as some Chinese.

In New York, Ellen met and married her husband, Eugene Taylor. He worked for many years as a leasing and accounting professional for various firms. Sadly, in 1981, Eugene died after they were married for more than two decades.

Ellen also had a long career teaching in New York City’s public schools. She taught music and served as a substitute teacher in various grade schools, mostly in the Bronx and Queens.

“I enjoyed teaching so very much! I am so thankful that I found a career that I was born to do.”

Ellen was a longtime congregant at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. It was there that Ellen had friends and people from church who received CalvaryCare^® at the end of their lives.

Whenever she visited people at the Bronxcampus, Ellen always marveled at the excellent care they received and how cooperative the staff was.

What impressed her the most was the fact that no patient at Calvary dies alone.

“Not everyone has people coming to visit them. It’s comforting to know that the staff will make sure that a patient won’t die alone.”

Even though she did not have any family members at Calvary, Ellen has supported the Hospital’s mission for more than two decades. Calvary is very fortunate to count her as a supporter!