Ellen A. Banaitis

Ellen was born on September 5, 1932, in Carlinville, the daughter of John Joseph and Elizabeth (Phelps) Drew. She married Veto F. Banaitis on April 8, 1961, in Carlinville.

Ellen graduated from Carlinville High School and later earned an associate’s degree from Lincoln Land Community College. She was a claims representative for the Social Security Administration, retiring after 28 years. Ellen was a faithful member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, where she participated in the Owl’s group. She loved dogs, gardening, traveling, spending time with her family, the St. Louis Cardinals, the outdoors, was an avid reader, and shared a mountain home with her daughter, Carol.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Veto; and brother, John R. Drew.

She is survived by her son, Joe (Karen) Banaitis of Chatham; daughters, Ann Countryman of Springfield, Carol (Sarah) Banaitis of Fleetwood, NC, and Kathy (Alec) Dierkes of Springfield; grandchildren, Ben (Luci) Countryman, Kayla (Geoff) Piehl, Austin (Kylie) Dierkes, Adam Dierkes, and Mathew, Andrew, and Daniel Banaitis; two great-grandchildren, Weston Countryman and Mason Piehl; sister-in-law, Kathy Drew; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial: Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Joseph Molloy officiating.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.