Ellen Harboe | Passages

11/26/1928-8/3/2025

Ellen Harboe, AKA Moma, Mumsie, MommaHonning, MorMor, Bedstemor, Ellemor, Oldemor; age 96, passed away peacefully at her home on Orcas Island, Washington on August 3rd. In the words of her children: She was beautiful, kind, optimistic, strong, determined, legend, stylish. She had Unconditional Love, an incredible gift of hospitality, modest and humble, quiet in her strengths. We All wanted to be like Ellen! She loved her family, her home, her craft, craftsmanship, food, music, and her fellow people. Ellen glowed, loved tradition, was thoughtful, generous, warm, inviting, loving, talented, with an eye for design and color, “hostess with the mostess”, great teacher and role model for her kids, grandchildren and everyone that knew her.

Ellen was born November 26, 1928, in Birkerød, Denmark, to Kamma and Hakon Fogh-Andersen. She had 4 brothers, all of whom lived in Denmark with their families except for the youngest, Ole, now 86 and living in the Coachella Valley, California.

Ellen went to the design school that is now known as the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation, in Copenhagen circa1947-1948. She met her husband of 75 years, Jens Harboe, in 1949. They then spent a year apart, she was a year in England as an au pair, while Jens spent a year in the US learning American agriculture. They married in 1950, and shortly after, moved to the US, to begin their new life.

The two led an exciting life during the pioneering days of Coachella Valley in California and lived for 25 years in the high desert community of Pinyon Crest above Palm Desert, before moving to Orcas Island in 1983. Jens was a gifted jazz pianist and businessman and together they cultivated a life involved with an interesting mix of people, musicians, artists and businesspeople, held fun social gatherings, travel, visits from the Danish family and so much more. They raised four children: Peter, Stina, Ria and Poul. Ellen worked hard raising her family, keeping their eclectic home beautiful, entertaining friends and clients, hosting music parties, and cooking wonderful food. She was an expert seamstress and made all her own clothes as well as clothes for her children. She was incredibly fashionable and remained stylish until the end. Having studied with great artists at the Academy, she had incredible artistic skill. She made beautiful things in fabric, and her family and friends have many of her creations in their home.

There was a period of 10 years where they divided their time between the desert home and a cabin on Bowen Island, BC, which with the cool air and green, reminded them of Denmark. It was there that inspired them to look at the San Juan Islands as a place to retire.

Ellen and Jens moved to Orcas Island in 1983. There they lived a quiet life, enjoying the community, the nature, their friends and family that came to visit. Ellen loved to work in her sewing room making gorgeous quilts and clothes, and she loved to hear her husband play his piano so beautifully. She was an avid reader. Ellen was involved with the Orcas Choral Society, Stitch and Gossip, Quilt Camps, bookies and more. She was a rockstar to many, admired for her warmth, beauty, winning smile, great style. She had friends far and wide, from her youth in Denmark, their time in the Coachella Valley, their place on Bowen Island, and of course on beloved Orcas Island.

Ellen is preceded in death by her husband Jens and daughter Stina, survived by her brother Ole Fogh-Andersen, sons Peter (Lell) and Poul (Lene Thomsen), daughter Ria (Alan), son-in-law Craig Grimm (Leslie), 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating locally to OPAL or the Funhouse, or Orcas Center on Orcas Island. The family will gather for a private remembrance of Ellen Harboe’s long and well-lived life, with perhaps a community gathering following.