Eleanor A. "Ellie" Chadwick, 86, of Rochelle, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at OSF Healthcare Center in Rockford. She was born on May 21, 1923, in Elmhurst, IL, the daughter of Henry and Anna M. (Macek) Perschek. Ellie married Paul Edgar Chadwick on Feb. 5, 1947 in Elmhurst, IL and he predeceased her on Oct. 8, 1967.
Also predeceasing her was a sister, Mildred Schmidbauer; and brothers, Edward and Henry Perschek.
After graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, IL, Ellie attended St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, IL, (a part of Loyola University) where she received a degree in nursing. Following graduation, she became a Cadet Nurse and joined the Army, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant as she served as a surgical nurse on a hospital ship in the Pacific during WWII.
After marrying Paul Chadwick, she moved to Rochelle in 1947 and worked for a time at Rochelle Community Hospital. While raising her family, Ellie worked part time as a nurse and ran Paul's appliance business after his death in 1967. Ellie joined St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rochelle in 1947. She was instrumental as a co-chair of the fundraising efforts which resulted in the construction of the current church and parish center. Ellie was a fixture at the annual bazaar and was a trustee of the Kelley Trust (which has served Rochelle community) since its inception in 1976.
Besides her church and family, she enjoyed being a member of Rochelle Country Club where she golfed well into her 80s. Ellie was an avid bridge player and a member of several bridge clubs and other social organizations. Most notably, however, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who touched the hearts of everyone who was fortunate enough to know her. Her warm smile and effervescent personality were known and will be missed by many.
Survivors include a daughter, Elaine (Joseph) Keller, of Racine, Wis.; two sons, Robert (Bettye) Chadwick, of Rochelle, and Paul (Ruth) Chadwick, of Delafield, Wis.; grandchildren, Paul (Kaycee) Chadwick, of Rockford, Michael (Emily) Chadwick, of Chicago, Robert Chadwick, of Rochelle, Chadwick Keller, of Milwaukee, Wis., Emily Keller, of Chicago, Daniel Keller, of Roselle, Matthew Chadwick, of Sun Prairie, Wis., Thomas Chadwick, of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Kathleen Chadwick, of Delafield, Wis.; great-grandchildren, Mary Helen Chadwick, John Paul Chadwick and Luke Chadwick; brother, Albert (Sue) Perschek, of Seaside, Ore.; and sister, Marie Hahne, of Wheaton.
Services will be Monday, April 12 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rochelle with Rev. Steven Lange at 10 a.m. Visitation will be at Unger-Horner Funeral Home on Sunday, April 11 from 2 to 5 p.m. Burial will be at St. Patrick Cemetery. Memorials can be made to St. Patrick Church.