Effie Estena Keene-Ebanks was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, on August 13, 1937. She migrated to Canada in 1960. Her son, Derrick, was born in 1961. She worked at Levi Straus for twenty-five years. After taking early retirement she embarked on two exciting careers – usher at the Rogers Stadium and an extra in movies filmed in the Greater Toronto Area.

She was a faithful member at Sanctus Church in Ajax for over thirty years. She was a proud mother to her son Derrick and welcomed his wife, Nicola, as a daughter. She was a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren, Rachel, Erin, Arielle and Jordan, all of whom she was very proud.

She fought a good fight against cancer but died on September 20th. She has passed on to her glory and is now in the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.