Ellen's earlier life story was told with her husband Henry George Hooper. After Henry died in 1893 she was reduced to surviving on parish relief. We know little about her after the 1901 census other than she moved to 11 Weaver Street Bethnal Green sometime before October 1906. She was living there when she received the letter from Alfred's regiment informing her that he had died. She was still in Weaver Street but at a different house when she was found dead in November 1909, aged 54. She had died alone in a cold room after suffering from pneumonia. An inquest was held on 18th November 1909 which found that she had died from natural causes. She was buried on 22nd November at Chingford Mount Cemetery.

We can surmise from the circumstances of her death that she was living alone at the time. It's probable that her remaining four children, Alice, Henry, George, and Albert, all attended her funeral.