«Ellen felt privileged and she shared her wealth»
How do you imagine the workshop of an angel? - I hadn't thought about it until I met Ellen shortly after the turn of the millennium and then found out: It's an office with a desk full of letters, artefacts from all over the world - and an ashtray. And it is also a long, light-flooded corridor - at the end, with a view of Lake Zurich - a huge table full of boxes, wrapping paper, velvet and satin ribbons, small cards and cards and countless gold stars.
She wrote lines full of compassion and sympathy - for the joys and the never-ending suffering of life.
Ellen received an incredible amount of mail and she answered and processed more than is normally possible - even for a hard-working person. She helped in every nook and cranny, gave and created opportunities - for people close to her and also for people she didn't know. She felt privileged, she was, and Ellen shared her wealth. Not just financial resources, she shared feelings and opinions, contacts and style.
She often couldn't sleep, couldn't find peace. She read and wrote, lines full of compassion and sympathy - for the joys and the never-ending suffering of life.
And when it came to Christmas, she made «parcels» that couldn't have been more beautiful. Throughout the year, she collected things that would bring joy. She bought tasteful accessories, clothes, table linen, lamps, books, bags, fragrances, toys - and wrapped them as lovingly as if all the recipients were her children.
Family, friends, employees - everyone was honoured. They all received precious lines from her hand, decorated with glittering hearts and stars.
I like doing it and it's important.
Ellen Ringier
One night in November, when I was staying with Ellen and Michael in Küsnacht, I couldn't sleep either and saw a light downstairs, right at the bottom of the long corridor. I trudged down and couldn't believe my eyes: to the right and left, metres of shiny wrapped presents in all shapes and sizes were lined up. At the front of the long table, Ellen was sitting with a glass of wine and working on more gifts. «I like doing it and it's important,» she said.
Last Christmas, last December, her hand was shaking too much. She could no longer write or wrap. Janet, her sister, and Thomas Huber, her «right hand» for years, took over these tasks sitting next to her. She not only dictated the texts - no, it was also important to her where the golden stars should be placed. And that there were not too few of them.
May all the stars, sun and moon shine for you and give you security, dearest Ellen, who accompanied us with your love and care for as long as you were able - and beyond. Your paths through life were often beautiful and glamorous, often colourful and dark green and sometimes easy, often painful, upsetting and difficult - and may what guided you also guide us: Gratitude and great joy in life, elegance, an open heart and a compassionate mind.
The fact that you are no longer here hurts more than I can express. You were my role model and mother substitute, friend and mentor. I miss you. It hurts terribly, but I am comforted by the joy and gratitude that your being and your work, your goodness has flowed into all our lives - and that I was able to get to know the workshops of an angel.
