Elaine June (Fanning) Ellis, age 96, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the Mckeen Towers Retirement Community in West Palm Beach, Florida. She was born February 11, 1928 in Chicago, IL to Leone and Ralph Fanning, both deceased.

After graduating from High School, she attended Ray Vogue School of Design and Sherwood Music College, both in Chicago.

In 1946 she moved with her family to Celina, Ohio where she met Charles D. Ellis. They were married August 30, 1947 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina. Both of their children Joie Mader and Matt Ellis were baptized there. Joie and her husband Dan were married there as well, along with their son Chris being baptized there. Following this long relationship Mrs. Ellis funeral will also be at this Church with Interment at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Celina. Fr. Adam Berning will be the celebrant for the funeral Mass of Christian Burial.

Mrs. Ellis worked for her father's architectural engineering firm from 1954 to 1964 during which time she designed the original Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic parish campus, Carmel, IN, which in 1956 consisted of the original Maximlite School for eight grades, the church, convent and rectory. It sat in the middle of farmland. She also co-designed with her brother, Ronald Fanning, the Church of the Holy Family in Steubenville, Ohio. The front of the church was a large stained glass rendering of the Holy Family which she designed. She also designed the stained glass front of the Newman Center at the University of Ohio in Athens, Ohio. She designed numerous other new schools and additions in Ohio and Indiana during this time.

In 1973 she received an A.A. degree in art with honors from Indiana University. In 1979 she received the BGS degree with high honors from Indiana University and in 1988 she received her Masters of Theology Degree with honors from St. John's Provincial Catholic Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan.

For many years Mrs. Ellis had a stained glass studio as well as produced paintings in all mediums. She had a print business in the Ludington, Michigan area where she built a new summer home in 2003 and thoroughly enjoyed her summers there through 2022. Her prints were made from pen and ink sketches of the shoreline area of western Michigan where her family had vacationed and lived since 1967.

In 2001, after 54 years of marriage she lost her husband and best friend Chuck "Charles" and in 2006 her brother Richard Fanning.

Her survivors include her beloved children Joie Ellis Mader and her husband Dan and her son Matthew Charles Ellis and his wife Carrie; two grandsons, Christopher Charles Mader and his wife Tiffany and David Charles Ellis; a sister Pat Dickinson and her husband Roy and her brother Ronald Fanning and his wife Jenine. Family also includes her husband's sister Margie Dabbelt and brother James "Pete" Ellis (deceased) and their families. There are two great grandsons and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and a few great grand nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Ellis was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Carmel, Indiana. She was a life member of the Indiana University Alumni Association, past secretary of the I. U. Alumni Association School of Continuing Education and a member of the Hoosier Salon.

There were many joyful family reunions in this loving family, not the least or last of which will be Elaine's Mass of Christian Burial being held at 10:30am on Saturday, December 21st at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina, OH, with Fr. Adam Berning officiating and Deacon Bill Reid concelebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Celina, OH.

A public visitation will be held for family and friends on Friday, December 20th from 4-6pm at the Lehman-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina, OH.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 N. Main St. Chamberlain, SD 57325.

Condolences may be shared with the Ellis family at LehmanDzendzelFh.com.

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