Ellen Orcutt: Family, friends remember mother killed in head-on car crash down the street from her San Jose home

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Family and friends are remembering a Bay Area mother who was killed in a car accident just down the street from her home.

It happened in San Jose off Foxworthy Avenue on October 25. The driver who hit the woman’s car head on also died.

“I just lost my best friend and my guiding light in this world,” said Joelle Orlando, the victim’s daughter. Her mom, Ellen Orcutt, died in the head-on crash.

San Jose police say the driver of an SUV was attempting to pass a car, crossed into the opposite lane, and collided with Orcutt’s Honda CRV.

“Kind, generous, just the most selfless person I’ve ever met,” Orlando said.

The impact was so severe, both vehicles flipped over. Police said the driver of the SUV may have been drinking. He died of his injuries Wednesday morning. He has not been identified.

“I don’t want her to be remembered for how she died. I want her to be remembered for how she lived and her life was beautiful,” Orlando said.

Orcutt was 74-years-old. She worked as a social worker for the past 25 years for a nonprofit called Pacific Clinics.

A provider for behavioral and mental health services, Greg Yoder has been a family friend of Orcutt for the past 32 years.

“She would deal with families that had just terribly difficult situations – just the worst, but she had been through some of it herself, she was prepared for it,” Yoder said.

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Loved ones referred to Orcutt as the ‘resource queen.’ She drove a car full of hygiene kits, clothes, bibles and bubbles to break up tense situations.

“Our world is a little chaotic, but people like Ellen (Orcutt) were always there to remind you that hey life may be chaotic, but you’re ok, and we’re ok, and we’re all going to be ok,” said Andrew Ford, Orcutt’s coworker at Pacific Clinics.

Orcutt’s daughter said she wants to continue her mother’s mission of helping others.

“Not forget how important life is and to cherish every moment that you have because you never know when it’s going to be taken,” said Joelle Orlando.

Coworkers of Orcutt shared a recent email she sent reflecting on her years of service in the community.

It said in part, “May you all be thankful and with hope for yourselves and those families that come into your life…they have a story to share and so do you. Keep hope alive. Take good care. Ellen.”