Eldora Ozanne

ELDORA M. OZANNE ROCKFORD - Eldora M. Ozanne died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, in Milford, Conn., after a long illness. Born Dec. 10, 1924, in Evansville, Wis., to Edward William and Selma (Gullickson) Marquette. She was the fourth of six children. The family moved to Rockford, Ill., when she was 6 years old. In 1942 she graduated from West High School. She met the love of her life in 1941, Donald Earl Ozanne. They were married Aug. 16, 1943, in Alameda, Calif., just before he left to go overseas for World War II as a part of the Navy. Because of her excellent grades in high school, Eldora won a scholarship to go to college for a teaching degree. However, she decided against pursuing college at that time as she had an opportunity for a job that paid much better. She became head of the civilian corps of the fifth district Army Ordinance plant in Rockford at the ripe old age of 18. She worked here until 1945 when her husband, Donald Ozanne came home. In 1954 Eldora enrolled in Rockford College. She was an Anna P. Sills Scholar and graduated in 1964, Magna Cum Laude. She started teaching in 1957 and taught in the Rockford School System for 27 years. She taught second grade at Evergreen and Welsh, and later taught at Wilson Middle School. She had a huge affect on many children's lives, and helped to establish the Talented and Gifted Program in the Rockford School System. She earned her master's in education in 1969 from the Rockford College Graduate Program. Through her research, she discovered the lost fact that Lewis Lemon was one of three co-founders of Rockford. In addition to history, Eldora enjoyed genealogy and travelling. She was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Alpha Delta Kappa-Beta Tau Chapter, and Sons of Norway. Survived by son, Dr. Marq R. Ozanne and wife, Vivian and grandchildren, Gayle, Marie and Edward, all of Connecticut; sister, Erma Lizer of Soddy Daisy, Tenn.; brother, Vernon (Peggy) Marquette of Alton, Mo.; and sister-in-law, Alice Valeo of Albuquerque, N.M. Predeceased by husband, Donald Ozanne; her parents; sisters, Virginia Roop and Veousha Dunseth; and brother, Edward Marquitz. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 26, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave., with visitation from 9 a.m. to time of Mass. Visitation also from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Road. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Ozanne Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rockford College. Tributes to the family at sunsetfhmemgardens .com.