Obituary: Phyllis I. Ellis - Class of 1942

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Phyllis I. Ellis, age 78, of Madison, died unexpectedly at her home on Monday, Dec. 23, 2002. She was born on July 3, 1924, in Madison, the daughter of Howard and Laura (Kelly) Ellis. She proudly graduated from Central High School in 1942, and was a technician at Mendota Mental Health Institute as a head of the x-ray department until her retirement in 1986. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church. She and Rose enjoyed 39 years at her ;cottage in Harmony Grove, where she made many good friends. Phyllis was an avid bowler and softball player in the Madison area. She enjoyed singing and telling jokes. She also liked the occasional hoopensocker with her friends at the Avenue Bar and the Esquire Club. Phyllis loved life and lived it to the fullest. She is survived by her sister, Patricia (John) Craig of Madison; nieces and nephews, Laurie (Larry) Sokolak of Madison, Cindy Craig of Madison, Danny (Virginia) Craig of Cottage Grove, Amy (Mike) Clark of Sun Prairie, Carrie (Rick) Brownrigg of Lodi, MaryAnn (Dan) Faust of Waunakee, and Mike (Karen) McCarty of Indianapolis; Ind.; many other nieces, nephews; great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Frances Younger and Mary Grace Capelle; two brothers, Dick and John Ellis; and her beloved friend, Rosemary McCarty. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., with Father Roger Nilles officiating. Entombment will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Ave., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Friends may call again from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the church. In lieu' of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. or the St. Peter's Catholic Church Music Department. Thanks for being there for us; we love you, "Philly Dilly." You will be dearly missed by all. Ryan Funeral Home 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in The Capital Times on December 25, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)