Ellen C. Whitmore

September 27, 1932 — June 15, 2018

Woodstock

Ellen C. Whitmore, age 85, passed away surrounded by family on June 15, 2018.

She was born to Robert C. Conolly and Mary H. Conolly in Waukegan, IL on September 27, 1932 and raised in Gurnee, IL.

Graduating from Holy Child High School in 1950 in Waukegan, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education from Iowa State University in 1954.

Ellen set 3 goals for herself … to complete her education, acquire a teaching position, and take a trip to Europe. Upon her return from Europe, she was then ready to get married. She married Wayne W. Whitmore on June 16, 1956 at Immaculate Conception Church in Waukegan, IL. Together they enjoyed a loving marriage of 17 years.

Ellen taught Home Economics for over 25 years, first at Warren H.S. in Gurnee, IL, where she met Wayne on a blind date. She continued her teaching career at Libertyville High School after her youngest child, Lisa, entered school. Two favorite classes she taught were “Bachelor Living” and ‘Creative Stitchery’. She served as Chair of the Home Economics Department for many years and completed a Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1976.

Along the way, Ellen, Wayne and the family took many camping trips across the United Sates and Canada. Such wonderful memories of those trips in the station wagon pulling the camper. There were also summer visits with family friends to ‘Windrush’ in northern Wisconsin. Ellen & Wayne built their dream house in “The Neighborhood” (Margate-Ridgeway-Woodfield) which was a wonderful place to raise their family. Ellen avidly followed her children’s sporting activities (football, wrestling, basketball, track, cross country & gymnastics) cheering them along at each and every event.

Upon early retirement from teaching, she relocated to Madison, WI in 1988 and then to Las Vegas, NV in 1999. While residing in Madison, she was employed by Custer Financial Services and Lands’ End from 1990 to 1999.

Ellen is survived by her four children: W. William (Therese) Whitmore, Cleveland, OH, Mary (Scott) Braucht, Madison, WI, Anne Marie (Bob) Lenzini, Woodstock, IL, and Lisa Prager, Las Vegas, NV; fifteen grandchildren – Patrick (Elizabeth) Whitmore, Claire (Jason) Grubaugh, Margaret Whitmore, William Whitmore, Mary Whitmore, 1st Lt. John Whitmore, Katie Whitmore, Julie Whitmore, Drew Braucht, Derek Braucht, Han Row, Alexander Zepeda, Aileen Zepeda, Rebecca Prager, and Joseph Prager; and three great-grandchildren – John Grubaugh, Thomas Whitmore, and Catherine Whitmore.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, her parents, Robert & Mary, two brothers, Robert D. and John H. Conolly, and son-in-law, Lt Col H. Robert Prager.

A visitation will be held at Resurrection Catholic Church, Woodstock, IL from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. with a light luncheon to follow. A private family burial will be at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to JourneyCare Hospice Foundation, 2050 Claire Ct, Glenview IL 60025.

She will be remembered by many as a strong and talented woman.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 13, 2018

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Resurrection Catholic Church

2918 Country Club Road, Woodstock, IL 60098

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Memorial Mass