Ella B. Wilkey was born Ella Bridget Kelly on July 31, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. She died Tuesday, January 7, 2025 in Hospice in Fairbury at Serenity Villa. Her parents were John and Nellie (Gallahue) Kelly from Piper City, Illinois. She attended Piper City schools until she went to high school at the Villa de Chantel in Rock Island, Illinois. She studied nursing at St. Luke’s in Davenport, Iowa in 1966 and later at Olivet in Bourbonnais, Illinois. She worked at Shapiro Developmental Center until retiring in 2002.

 

She married George Wilkey in Piper City on December 26, 1966. They had four children. Ella was a girl scout leader, a cub scout leader and an active member of the Catholic Council of Women and the Illinois Nurses Association. She was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Piper City. Her many leadership roles included being an officer of the Illinois Nurses Association, the Council of Catholic Women, the Deanery Board and the Diocesan Board as well as the Piper City Library Board.

 

Ella was preceded in death by her parents. Ella leaves behind her husband, George, children, Mary (Brian) Currier of Austin, TX, Patrick Wilkey of Vernon Hills, IL, Phillip Wilkey of Watseka, IL, Thomas (Karla) Wilkey of Fairbury IL, grandchildren Emily and Kelly Wilkey of Fairbury, IL, and Camron Currier of Austin, TX, her sister, Mary Jewell of Fort Wayne, IN, and many nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.

 

Her family will hold a visitation at Knapp-Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman, Illinois on January 13th from 4 to 7 pm. A service will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Piper City on Tuesday, January 14th at 9:30 am with a rosary before the mass. She will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Piper City at a later date.

 

She touched many lives and will be missed by those who knew her and loved her.

 

Memorials may be made to the Piper City Public Library or the donor’s choice.