Who is Ella Hale in the novel, All Things Cease to Appear?

Ella Hale is the mother of the three Hale brothers, and she is married to the abusive, alcoholic Cal Hale. Although the couple once ran a substantial dairy farm together, they have fallen on very hard times and much of their assets have been repossessed or sold. The combination of their horrible financial fortune and Cal’s abuse eventually send Ella into a deep depression, which culminates in her suicide and Cal’s death. Ella is ever-present throughout the novel, manifesting as a paranormal spirit in the house while the Clare’s live there.