Ella Ida Calderone was born on December 25, 1921 and lived until May 20, 2022. She was born Ella Schmitz from parents Ella and Henry Schmitz and wed Joseph Calderone on May 28, 1949. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. Ella had one child, son Paul, her grandchildren Ryan (Lara), Jenna (Vince), and Megan (Cortez), great-grandchild Bennett, niece Carolyn (Dave), great-nieces Lindsey (Jim), Lauren (Clayton) and great-grandniece Saoirse and great-grandnephew Corbin.
Ella was born in Chicago, Illinois at home. She enjoyed growing up with her brothers Carl, Paul, and Henry. She graduated high school at St. Cornelius in Chicago. During WWII, Ella and her childhood friend Jeanne enlisted in the Navy together serving as WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She worked in medical records in Washington D.C. and was honorably discharged. After the war, she obtained a job in the Bookkeeping Department at Skil Corporation where she also met her husband, Joe. Ella expressed that she and Joe enjoyed taking her niece Carolyn to places like Kiddieland when she was little, and she was extremely grateful when Paul was born.
Ella enjoyed time with Joe vacationing with family in Florida. They loved to fish together. She enjoyed listening to the birds while living in Wisconsin, and later in life she enjoyed watching shows like Murder She Wrote, Magnum P.I., Law and Order, and Blue Bloods. Ella had a big crush on Tom Selleck even in her 90’s. And everyone knows, she really loved good sweets.
Ella loved all her family and friends throughout her life. Some of her favorite memories were of her vacationing several times in Hawaii with her friend Jeanne. She loved to drive her midnight blue Camaro to visit with her son and his family. Ella spoke of fond memories of reading to her grandchildren and tucking them in bed when she visited. She also expressed that her great-grandson Bennett made her laugh and smile.
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