Ella J. Wilkison

NAME ELLA WILKISON, age 91, of Elburn, passed from this life to eternal life in the morning hours of Monday April 19, 2010 at Provena Pine View Care Center following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.BORN: She was born October 4, 1918, in Ainsworth, NE the daughter of Edd and Anna (Steiger) Jones. EARLY YEARS :She grew up in Ainsworth and attended local schools. Anna passed away when Ella was young so she entered the working world earlier than some to help support the family. At age sixteen Ella traveled to Illinois to live with relatives in the Fox Valley area. MARRIAGE February 27, 1940 Ella married Earl J. Wilkison in St. Charles and they made their home in Elburn, above the village bakery.OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY Ella worked various jobs in the area. She met the love of her life at a party where she was introduced to Earl J. Wilkison. That meeting proved providential as they married in St. Charles on February 27, 1940 and made their home above the village bakery for a time. As the family grew to include six children, Ella and Earl moved to Elburn on Babcock St. and later to a farm on Beith Rd. where generations of memories were made. In 1985, Earl and Ella visited family in Arizona and stayed after her daughter-in-law passed away unexpectedly. Four months later Earl passed away. Ella continued to make her home in Mesa, Arizona until failing health brought her back to Illinois in 2004. Most recently she made her home with her son Earl back in her home town of Elburn. MEMBERSHIPS Ella was a member the Elburn Community Congregational Church, Ladies Auxiliary of the Elburn American Legion, the Five C’s and Women of the Moose Chapter 83. LIFE NOTES When she was young Ella loved to ride horses, especially her favorite, Old Bonnie, who she rode to school and back every day. Throughout her life Ella was always busy. Whether she was working or at home, her hands never slowed down. Ella made dresses for the girls, knitted and crocheted baby sweaters, hats and booties. When she cooked in the kitchen, word spread throughout the family as well as the neighborhood. Ella was famous for her Christmas cookies, Divinity, and all kinds of fudge each winter. Her cakes knew no season as they made their mark on birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and everyday in between. In earlier years both she and Earl loved to bowl and spent many years knocking down pins with friends on Thursday nights. She was a life-long bingo and card player who loved to play Kings on the Corner, Canasta and Pinochle among others. SURVIVORS She now leaves six children:Karen (Robert "Buck") Sivert of Elburn, IL, Marilyn Long of Elburn, ILElma (James) Wilmath of ElburnArlene Wilmath of Chouteau, OK, Earl G. Wilkison of Elburn, IL, and Ella"Sally"(John) Malnar of Fort Atkinson, WI;Fifteen grandchildren:Brenda (Randy) Swanson, Cindi (Paul) Paschal, Daniel (Adrienne) Sivert, Missi (Jon) Lewis, Randy Long, Richard (Susan) Wilmath, Joseph Wilmath, Jerry Wilmath, Kenny (Sara) Wilmath, Penny Moore, Martin (Kristi) Wilmath, Adam (Courtney) Wilkison, Chris (Andrea) Malnar, Kurt Malnar and Kelsey Malnar;Twenty-five great-grandchildren,Seven great-great grandchildren, Two sisters-in-law, Ann Gliddon of Sugar Grove, IL and Lillian Windisch of Arkansas and Many nieces and nephews. PRECEDED She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Earl, her siblings: Lena Cole, Frank Jones and Gladys Smith and one grandson, Earl G. Wilkison. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A service to celebrate her life will also be held at the funeral home on Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery. MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Ella Wilkison Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family through www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A service to celebrate her life will also be held at the funeral home on Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m.

Interment will follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery.