Name: Viewing for Rose Eileen Bonhart Ellis
Start: 2022-10-08T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-10-08T15:30:00.000Z
Location: Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Inc.

Rose Eileen Bonhart Ellis

Rose Eileen Bonhart Ellis, the widow of Lawrence Ellis, Sr., was born March 23, 1943, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Wilkes and Kathryn Bonhart. She departed this life Saturday, September 24th, 2022. Her parents brought her to Toledo, Ohio, at a young age where she was later joined in the family by younger siblings, Marsha and Wilkes, II (Mack).

Rose attended St. Philip's Lutheran Elementary School and then graduated from Jesup W. Scott High School in 1960. She later received a degree in vocal performing arts from Bowling Green State University.

An accomplished soprano and pianist, she was the organist for St. Philip's Lutheran Church for many years and was a well known piano instructor in the Toledo area. Many will also remember her as a staff member of the original 1960s era Upward Bound program.

Her career began as an elementary school teacher at the former St. Mary's Elementary, the former St. Francis Elementary and the former Pickett Elementary School (now Pickett Academy), all in Toledo. However, after a circuitous vocation route, she officially retired as the City of Toledo's human resources manager.

Her volunteer activities include the Toledo NAACP, the Frederick Douglass Center (former board member), the Wayman Palmer YMCA (former board member), St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church and the Christian Legal Coalition. She continued to reinforce her relationship with God when she converted to Catholicism in 2019 and joined St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.

Rose is survived by her siblings, Marsha Bonhart Neilson of Dayton, Ohio and Wilkes (Mack) Bonhart, II of Atlanta, Georgia; her nephew/sons, Ernest (Chip) Neilson, IV (Ashley) of suburban Cincinnati, Ohio, and Robert O. Tate, III of Chicago, Illinois; great nephews and great niece, Maxwell, Miles and Jayda Neilson; god-daughters, Lora Brooks Parks and Clotessa Shaw; special friends, Michael Ashford, Theresa Gabriel,Teresa Moore, Sonya Newton, Twyla Wheaton, the Bennett family, Billy Moreland, and her greatly beloved Memphis family.

Rose's homegoing will begin with a viewing from 10 am to 11:30 am, followed by a service on Saturday, October 8th, at Wisniewski Funeral Home, 2426 N. Reynolds Rd., Toledo, Ohio, 43615.

She will be interred at Woodlawn Cemetery where we have the honor of locating her next to our parents.

www.wisniewskifuneral.net

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Blade on Oct. 2, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Rose Ellis

6 Entries

Marsha

November 3, 2022

Thank you all for the kind words that are truly reflective of my sister´s character and personality.
Thank you.
M Bonhart Neilson & family

Cleo Holyfield

October 9, 2022

Rose was such a nice person. We had mutual friends and enjoyed many good times together. She taught my daughter piano. I've been gone from Toledo many years but I have many fond memories of Rose. God Bless.

Leslie Poellnitz

October 8, 2022

The Home Going Service for Miss Rose was Absolutely Beautiful! The Tributes, the Family, and Special Friends memories that were shared, gave us all in attendance a little bit more, of Miss Rose. She was a Beautiful Woman, and as her Spirit continues to lives on, she will truly be missed. Leslie Poellnitz

Helen S/K

October 8, 2022

Miss Bonhart was such a blessing to so many from St. Francis de Sales elementary school. She organized social events that included music/singing. To this very day, I think of her when I hear certain songs. Miss Bonhart worked to bring people together, it didn't matter race or economic standing, she simply saw humans. God Bless you Miss Bonhart, I and others am forever indebted for your kindness. "Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place if you can".

Venus Chapman

October 8, 2022

I will always remember her laughter and love for me and my family. My parents loved her dearly and often she was my dear confidante. Rest my sister. Luv u always Marsha praying for you and your family

Mari Ann (Winand) Szczublewski

October 4, 2022

My mother taught at St. Mary's and I was a student of Ms. Bonhart's. Sitting and waiting after school for my mother to finish her day was the norm and one day Ms. Bonhart taught me to crochet. It was the gift of a lifetime as I have wrapped my children and grandchildren, family, friends, coworkers and total strangers in afghans, hats and scarves for the last 45+ years. I still think of her often when I pick up my yarn! My sincere condolences to her family.

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