Just Two Girls From Hebron

Honoring Our Parents. One Story at a Time.

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Hi! We’re the Ely girls, or we used to be known as the Ely girls, and likely around Hebron still are! Now our surnames are Milliman and Filliatreault.

We were born and raised in a farmhouse on County Route 30 in Hebron, Washington County, NY. We were the fourth generation to live in that home. Built in 1890, it was sold out of the family in 2006. A lot of stories resonate from that home and afterward. We’re here to share the legacy that is our parents, but along the way, you may learn a bit about all those other generations and all the descendants of those people. Woven in. The Family, but for now, we’re here to honor the memory of our parents, Florence Sarah Pelletier Ely (b. July 28, 1946, d. October 2, 2025) and Leonard Roscoe Ely (b. October 15, 1945, d. May 11, 1993).

I’m Christina Ely Milliman, the youngest of the two (on the left). As a child and teen, I was a musician. I played several instruments. Flute, piccolo, and piano are the main ones. In that home in Hebron and at school in Hartford, I played and practiced those instruments 10-30 hours a week. At age 17, I laid them down. For 30 years! Just a couple of weeks ago, upon my Mother’s death, I picked up my flute and played Amazing Grace. A few days later, I unearthed and literally dusted off my black lacquer Yamaha piano. Today, I am a potter and teacher. I own azure arts pottery studio in Richfield Springs, NY, just north of Cooperstown.

Eulogy for Mom and Dad: The Second Bookmark

Written by Christina Ely Milliman, in memory of Florence Sarah Pelletier Ely and Leonard Roscoe Ely

Published on Facebook, October 10, 2025

The second bookmark marking the 23rd Psalm in my mother’s bible is a yellow postcard with yellow and white flowers on it and Psalm 100.

The Lord Is Good

Sing to the Lord, all the world!

Worship the Lord with joy;

Come before him with happy songs!

Acknowledge that the Lord is God.

He made us, and we belong to him;

We are his people, we are his flock.

Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving;

go into its courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise him.

The Lord is good;

his love is eternal

and his faithfulness lasts forever.

What I did not do that morning at my Mother’s funeral was turn the card over. Yesterday morning I did. It was then that I realized the true reason that postcard is there. It is addressed to Mr Leonard Ely, RD# 2, Granville, NY 12832. Postmarked April 29, 1987

It reads:

Dear Len,

What a wonderful voice you have! -so full & resonant. Thank you for sharing it with us this past Sunday. So many were blessed by your gift. We’ll have to find another opportunity for you to use it.

In Christ,

Becky (Edwards)

My Father was a rich man. Rich in character, love, compassion, empathy, humor and laughter. He was rich in friends and family. He loved well and received it in return. He also had a phenomenal, deep, rich bass voice that would make your heart sing, make you smile instantly, and cause your eyes to tear. It was out of this world. A voice that I have never forgotten. I can hear him sing in that church, and his voice carrying to the rafters to this day over 32 years after his passing.

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