Eleanor Elizabeth Richardson ("Ellen") was born on August 17, 1878 in Norwich, Norfolk. Her parents were George Walter Richardson and Martha (Broom) Richardson.

Ellen was the second of eight children in the family. According to the 1901 census, she was still living at home, and working as a tailoress. On April 16,1906 she married Lewis Victor West at St. Matthew's in Norwich.

In 1912 she took her two living children Eleanor Elizabeth West and Fred West to join their father in Toronto, Canada. They travelled on the Royal George to Quebec City, Canada and then took the CP rail to Toronto.

In Canada, Ellen had three more daughters - Dorothy Maud West, Evelyn West, Louise West. She lived in Toronto, Parry Sound, and Charlton, Ontario.

Ellen died in 1960 at the age of 82 and is buried in the St. Andrew's Prebyterian Church cemetery in Scarborough, Ontario along with Lewis and Evelyn.