Grand Harbour on Grand Manan Island is the location of Ells Funeral Home, a small island family business conceived in April of 1981 by Phillip and Doris (Wooster) Ells.

This was a first for the Island, a licensed funeral director/embalmer and a small funeral home to serve a population of twenty five hundred residents.

Phil Ells began working in funeral service in 1958. He also had twelve years in sales management working for two national firms prior to moving to Grand Manan.

After moving to Grand Manan with wife Doris (a former Islander), the couple purchased Doris' great grandparents' property located in the center of the Island in the village of Grand Harbour. "The Barn" as the building is known by many was converted into a restaurant and boarding rooms for travelers in the 1950's by Doris' Aunt Ruth Hamilton. Ruth's restaurant was a local gathering place where it housed one of the first television sets on the Island. Later when Ruth closed the restaurant the boarding rooms were renovated into apartments and the main floor became retail space where the Funeral Home is located now to serve the community.

Soon after the business started, Phil's daughter, Melanie, already married to Klaus Sonnenberg and living on the Island, took her apprenticeship with her father. She successfully passed her provincial embalmer exams in November, 1985 and later became a licensed funeral director. Besides assisting the family business, Melanie also owns and operates Atlantic Charters; an aviation charter operation based on the island that she and her late husband Klaus started together in 1982. Her two sons Paul and Peter work alongside her in the operation.

In the meantime, Phillip's son, Phillip Jr., a graduate of Grand Manan High School, apprenticed with Castle Funeral Homes of Saint John, successfully completed his course of studies in December, 1987 and joined the family business the following year. He also assists the Grand Manan Harbour Authority with management of the Island's Harbours. He is a licensed life adviser in New Brunswick helping local families with life insurance, and investment needs. Phil's wife Laurida is originally from Richibucto and moved to the island with Phillip after they were married in 1988. She works in the funeral home helping families, administration of the business and is a valuable asset to the day to day operation of the business.

The families are community minded and devote considerable time and effort to many volunteer projects.