Annella I. Gilles

WAUNAKEE – Annella I. Gilles, age 90, of Waunakee, WI passed away on July 6, 2023.  She was born in Roxbury, WI to Leonard and Lydia (Breunig) Endres.  On November 24, 1955, she married Wilfred G. Gilles at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church in Roxbury and they farmed for many years in Waunakee.  She was a faithful member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Waunakee and the Council of Catholic Woman as well as St John’s Piecemaker’s Quilt Club.  Mom loved listening and dancing to polka music especially the hop polka, playing harmonica, singing, quilting, gardening, playing cards and enjoyed eating desserts/pies and vanilla ice cream.  She was also a good cook & we especially enjoyed her fresh bread and cinnamon rolls she made with love.

Annella is survived by her 6 children; Donna Gilles of Sun Prairie, Dorothy Ziegler (Jerry) of Cross Plains, Jerome Gilles (Lisa) of Waunakee, Dennis Gilles (Becky) of DeForest, Vernon Gilles (Wanda) of DeForest, Sharon Gilles of Middleton and special nephew Jim Boland (Diane) of Mount Horeb.  She is further survived by 14 grandchildren; Scott Olson, Brian Olson, Rachel (Carlos) Jimenez, Mike (Kelsey) Ziegler, Kristen (Mike) Travis, Lucas Gilles, Nick (Allie) Gilles, Marcus Gilles, Morgan Gilles, Reece Gilles, Sam Gilles, Amanda (Nick) Munding, Amber Gilles, Eric (Randi) Raisbeck and 22 great-grandchildren; Lindsey, Jacob, Joseph, Joaquin, Abigail, Chaya, Isaac, Levi, Ezra, Asher, Lydia, Ariel, Kalina, Ava, Luca, Luria, Logan, Eleanor, Curtis, Domenic, Maverick and Wells.   Special grandnieces/nephews Peter (Jackie) Boland, Brian (Katie) Boland, Julie (Chris) Smith, Sarah (Adam) Brecklin along with Special great-grandnieces/nephews; Joshua, Clara, Annabelle, Henry, Abigail, Allison, Chelsea, Amy, Emma and Hailey.

She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mabel (Bob) Gilles, and sister Della (Mike, deceased) Ryan; brothers and sister in-laws, Walter Endres, Delvin (Judy) Endres, Wayne (Marsha), and Dan (Rita) Endres and sister-in-law Helen (Alfred, deceased) Gilles.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Lydia, her husband Wilfred, infant son Michael; brothers/sisters and in-laws;  Orville (Mary) Endres, Rachel (John) Andrewjeski, Selma (Vincent) Koch, infant Celene Endres, Harry (Marlene) Endres, and brothers-in-law; Mike Ryan, Fr Eugene Gilles, Alfred Gilles, Martin (Evelyn) Gilles; sisters-in-law; Sr Francis Gilles, Clara (Ed) Boland, Margaret (Denette) Conway, Jeanette (Louis) Schwarz, and Francis Ann (Andy) Ryswick.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 13^th at Winn-Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Co Rd Q, Waunakee from 5 to 7pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 14^th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 209 South St. in Waunakee.  Family and friends may also call on Friday, July 14^th at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery in Waunakee.

We would like to thank Waunakee EMS and St. Mary’s Hospital staff ICU for their kind support and care during Mom’s brief illness.

“You can shed tears that she is gone.  Or you can smile because she has lived.  You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back.  Or you can open your eyes and see that she has left.  Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of love that you shared.  You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday.  Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.  You can remember her and only that she is gone.  Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.  You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back.  Or you can do what she would want, smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

--Mom, you have set a wonderful example for all of us with your kind, gentle and loving manner. We love and will miss you!

                                                                                            Winn-Cress Funeral Home

                                                                                                         5785 Hwy Q

                                                                                                      Waunakee, WI