A De Anza College part time speech instructor died of cancer on Tuesday, just three weeks after her 36th birthday, according to an e-mail sent by Dean of Language Arts John Swensson.

Ellen Shide Crannell was born on Jan. 31, 1969.

She started working for the De Anza International and Intercultural Studies Division in 1996 and later joined the Speech Department.

“Ellen had suffered recurring bouts of cancer, but was always optimistic about recovery, and she worked very hard to stay in the classroom, despite her illness,” Swensson said.

There will be a funeral mass on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. for Crannell. The mass will be located at Santa Teresa Catholic Church.

A memorial for Crannell will be held at De Anza at a time yet to be determined.

“She was a teacher of teachers in how to create a comfortable community in the classroom,” Swensson said.

Crannell lived with her husband whom she met in college and her 16-month-old girl.

“Anyone who visited Ellen in the past year would have seen the riveting joy and delight between mother and daughter,” Swensson said.

Crannell graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication studies from San Jose State University.

Cranell published two books. One was a reference book to the unique fears non-native speakers have with public speaking called “Intercultural Critical Incidents in Theory.”

A scholarship fund has been established for Crannell’s daughter to help pay for her education.

Those whose who want to donate can pick up pre-paid envelopes in the Language Arts Division Office.