Gwendolyn Ellis

Sun Prairie- Gwendolyn M. Ellis, age 83, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2012 at the Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg. She was born on March 16, 1929 in Madison the daughter of William & Helen (Gugel) Freidel. Mrs. Ellis was a resident of Big Bend for 42 years and most recently a resident of Sun Prairie since 2006. Gwen was an amazing wife, mother and friend. Everything she did, she did with care and love. She was a homemaker, and also assisted her second husband with editing and proofreading manuscripts. She was a lover of the outdoors. You might find her hard at work, sporting twings and leaves in her hair. She kept her yard, garden and flowers as meticulous as her home. She loved holidays and made them special for everyone. Gwen was optimistic and witty and anyone who crossed her path was better for it. Her one-liners often had people crying from laughter. Even when times were hard for her, she greeted everyone with a cheery word and a kind smile. Her strength and courage were contagious. Gwen's glass was always half full. This world will not be the same without her. She will be deeply missed and we will forever carry her in our hearts. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Bob) McCarthy, Crete, IL, Suzanne Ellis, Cross Plains, Deborah Ellis, Morriston, Florida, Dianne (Rick) Weigle, Lodi and Mary (Tim) Ellis-Stigler, Waukesha; her grandchildren, Christopher (Heather) McCarthy, Dawn (Rick) Walstad, Cinnamon (Bill) Pavin and Alex (Miriam) Hoppe; 9 great-grandchildren; her brother, Roderick (Carol) Freidel, Sun Prairie; her sisters, Catherine Larson, Madison, Alice White, Washington and Betty Stuckmeyer, Minnesota; nieces and nephews. Gwendolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her first & second husbands, Edward Krebs and Mel Ellis; her brothers, Rodney, Leroy & Donald; her sister, Bernice Welker. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cress Funeral Home, Sun Prairie. A time of gathering will be held on Sunday at the funeral home from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service. A reception will be held in the funeral home's community room following service. Burial to be held in Sacred Hearts Cemetery, Sun Prairie. The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Kindred Hearts in Sun Prairie and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassion, kindness and love while caring for Gwen. Also, a big thank-you to all of Gwen's special friends at Kindred Hearts. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to UW-Madison Fund for Neurological Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease or Agrace HospiceCare.