Colette Ellar

Colette Ellar, 71, passed away peacefully in hospice care in Philadelphia, PA on August 11, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. 

Colette was born October 23, 1951 in Casablanca, Morocco, the eldest of five children of Charles Elharar and Ninette Abittan. She grew up in Moshav Barak, Israel, after the family moved there when she was a child. As a young woman, following her Israeli military service, Colette moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived for the majority of her adult life. She was a stylist, salon owner, and artist, known for her paintings. She studied Fine Art and Art History at Atlanta College of Art and Georgia State University, and enjoyed world travel, fashion, art, French and Israeli language and culture, gardening, and fine food and wine. She was a devoted mother to Trace, grandmother (“Coco”) to Asher and Cole, and a dear friend to many. 

Colette is survived by her son, Trace Hawkins, daughter-in-law, Emily Hawkins, and grandsons Asher Hawkins and Cole Hawkins, of Philadelphia. She is also survived by beloved family in Israel and Georgia, including her sister, Noemy Silverbush, her brothers, Rami, Gad and Ishay Ellharar, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents. 

Burial and a private family service will be held near her hometown in Israel. Plans for a virtual memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Notes of condolence or remembrance can be shared at https://obits.levinefuneral.com/colette-ellar. In lieu of flowers, a tree can be planted in her memory, https://shop.jnf.org/collections/plant-trees, or a donation can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.