Banate "Sittie" (Jeanette) Ellis
Banate "Sittie" (Jeanette) Ellis, 90, of Roanoke went to be with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, on Monday, December 8, 2025. She was the widow of Edward (Ed) "Jiddie" Ellis and was also preceded in death by her parents, Elias and Hannah Moujaes; siblings, Talka Yousseph, Rose Tanios, Mary Azar (Eid), Frangieh Azar (Jris), and Marguerite Murray (Ferris).
She was a member of St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church for more than five decades. She was a devout Catholic that prayed the Rosary daily. She was the Matriarch of the Ellis Family, whom she cared for deeply. Once you met her, you were welcomed into the family with open arms and expected to eat and socialize and you would always receive a blessing as you left. She enjoyed preparing many foods, but Lebanese foods, Kibbie and sweets were her favorite. She also enjoyed spending her summers outside gardening vegetables, plants, and flowers. Her heart and love was pure and endless and this made her a natural caregiver of both people and animals. Her cat TikTik is missing her dearly. Some of our favorite Sittie'isms are: Trust in God, Do not be afraid, Be Strong, Let the spiderwhip (fly swatter) talk, Order by order, Talk the talk and walk the walk, Anywhere you go and anywhere you come, God be with you.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by her loving son, Pierre (Tammy); grandchildren, Charles Aesy III, Alexis Ellis, Victoria Aesy, and Christina Ellis; a brother, Shahid Moujaes (Marie); as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025 at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church with Father George Zina and Father Kevin Beaton officiating. Interment will follow at St. Andrew's Diocesan Cemetery.
The family would like to say thank you to Dr. Kimberly Aderhold and her staff at the BRCC for their attentive care. Thank you to the Doctors and Staff at Carilion Roanoke Memorial for their care and support. Finally, a special thank you to Hiba Azar, her niece who came from Lebanon to spend many loving months with her and accompanied her back to Lebanon where she visited with family for the first time in 30 years.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the building fund at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church, 4730 Cove Road, Roanoke, VA 24017
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.simpsonfuneral.com
