Ellen Frances (Abbott) Vonasek

Ellen Vonasek, age 78, resident of Bemidji, MN passed away into the creators arms at her home with her husband by her side. She had a seventeen month battle with metastatic bilrary tract rare non curable cancer.

A Mass of Celebration of Life will be 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at St. Philip’s Catholic Church with Fr. Don Braukmann officiating. A Time of Sharing will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017 with a 6:30 p.m., prayer service at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Bemidji.

Ellen Frances Abbott was born September 11, 1938 to Frank and Florence Abbott in Grand Forks, ND. She lived with her family in Grand Forks until 1950. She attended St. Michael’s Elementary grades one through five. In 1950 her family moved to East Grand Forks, MN where she attended Sacred Heart Catholic School grades 6-12. After graduation from high school in 1956, she was employed at Lawrence Bushee Potato Company as an office worker. In July of 1960 Ellen married Ralph Vonasek. They made their home at Hallock, MN were Ralph got his first teaching contract. Ellen was active in volunteering in community activities. She volunteered at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with many functions. In August of 1961 her son Todd was born and Ellen became a stay at home mom. The fall of 1967 Ellen and her family moved to Bemidji where her husband was hired into a teaching job. In Bemidji, Ellen was employed as a receptionist for dentist, Dr. Jim Ghostley. In 1972, she was employed by the Holiday Inn where she was in charge of sales and marketing. In Bemidji she again got involved in volunteer work at St. Philip’s Catholic Church. In 1970 Ellen and her husband and two couple friends purchased an island in Lake of the Woods, Morson, Ontario, Canada. At the island many fun times were spent with family and friends. Not only at home but also at the island she maintained wonderful flower beds. After Ellen’s retirement she and her husband were able to enjoy extended stays at the island. Ellen enjoyed and loved her family and she will be sadly missed by her husband, Ralph; son, Todd (Carla); Grandson Seth (Jordan) and Reid (Emily); sister-in-law, Lorraine of Ramsey and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be directed to Sanford Bemidji Home Care and Hospice, St. Philip’s Catholic Church Servery.

Online guestbook at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com

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