Elly Patterson

Elly Patterson (née Richards) is the wife of John Patterson. She has three children: Michael, Elizabeth, and April. Alongside her husband, they raise their kids in the fictional town of Milbourough, a suburb of Toronto.

Personality
Elly can be described early on in the strip as a frazzled housewife and impatient young mother. She is often jealous of John because he gets to pursue a career while she is expected to stay home and raise a family. Elly is known to lose her temper quite easily, yelling at her young children often and even swearing at them when they anger her. As her two children grow, she seems to mellow out a bit, though with Michael growing into a teenager and Elizabeth soon to follow, her temper is still tested.

In her better moods, Elly is a doting mother and adoring wife to John. She cares deeply for her children and will do anything to ensure their happiness and wellbeing. As the strip progresses, Elly is offered to assist John with dental work, write for a newspaper column, and eventually, work at a library.

When Elly falls pregnant with April in late 1990, she is uneasy and unsure of having another baby, as her family is well past the baby-raising stage and she doesn’t even own a crib anymore. She even goes so far as to tell her friend, Connie, that she didn’t want this. However, throughout her pregnancy, Elly seems more accepting of the situation. In April 1991, Elly finally gives birth and seems to gracefully accept the change and loves having April around.

Background
Elly Patterson was born Elizabeth “Elly” Richards on August 26, 1951. Her parents are James Richards and Marian Richards. She has a younger brother, Phil.

Elly was born and raised in Vancouver. After high school, she followed her life-long ambition of becoming a writer and made a giant leap of faith by moving across the country to Toronto to attend university. Not knowing the city, or anyone in it, she accepted the challenge of finding her place and her independence, and succeeded in both. She made a network of friends at the University of Toronto, including her best bud, Connie, and had the Toronto transit system down pat in no time.

It was in a campus library where she met John Patterson, snoozing away in her familiar study nook. He was funny, witty and charming (once awake) and she felt instantly comfortable with him. After a year of serious dating, he proposed. They were married the next February and settled happily into a small basement bachelor apartment. Elly's interest in her degree was fading by this time and she wanted to get out and write. She left university early to work in a bookstore and do some freelance writing while John finished up his dentistry training.

Once academia was behind them, John and Elly moved to a 2-bedroom apartment outside of Toronto and continued developing their careers—and, as it happened, their family. Elly was 24 when she found herself unexpectedly, but joyfully pregnant with Michael.

Elly began as the strip's housewife protagonist. On occasion she filled in for one of John's dental assistants, took English classes, and took a volunteer job writing for the local paper. She later worked in the town library, then a local book store. John and Elly eventually bought the book store, expanding its inventory to include classic toys and model railroad kits. When Elly retires, she sells the title to the bookstore to Moira, an employee of hers. Elly was based on creator Lynn Johnston, who named the character after a late friend of hers.

Appearances
Elly appeared in the strip constantly, as she was a mother and wife and main character. She also appeared in all animated adaptations of the comic.

Relationships
John

Elly gets along quite well with John, though strips have shown them in disagreements and arguments.

Michael

Elly loves Michael but they have butted the heads the most, as Michael was a rowdy young boy and sullen teenager.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was babied by Elly as a toddler and young girl. Perhaps the two of them both sharing the same gender is why they had a closer bond.

April

April and Elly got along often when April was a younger, but as she grew older, she became a black sheep of sorts and often disagreed with a lot of things her family did. Elly does not take well to this and doesn’t seem to to be as close to April in later years.

Marian

Elly adores her mother

Jim

Elly is very protective of her father

Phil

Phil and Elly are said to have not gotten along well as children. Elly being the elder of the two, she may have teased him and even bullied him. As adults, they open each other‘s homes to one another and enjoy each other‘s company.

Connie

Connie Thomas is Elly’s closest friend and neighbor. They share coffee together constantly.

Anne

Anne Nichols is another good friend and neighbor of Elly’s, though their bond isnt as strong or as consistent. They share coffee together as well and as often as possible.

Carol

Though Carol Enjo becomes a neighbor to the Patterson’s at some point, her relationship with Elly doesn’t seem as strong as it is with the other neighborhood women. They still seem to get along and occasionally share words with one another.

Voice
Elly Patterson is voiced by Abby Hagyard in The Bestest Present, along with all six Lacewood specials.

In the 2000 series, she is voiced by Lynn Mason.

Trivia
• Elly shares the same name as Elizabeth, though she’s always addressed as ”Elly”, likely to avoid confusion.

•Despite being blonde-haired, only one of her three children shares the trait.

• Elly loves to read and write

•Creator Lynn Johnston designed Elly after herself