Photo courtesy of Merritt Funeral Home
Mendota, Illinois
Nov 5, 1942 – Mar 10, 2022 (Age 79)
Karen M. Ellis, 79, of Mendota, passed away March 10, 2022 in her home.
Funeral services will be Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Bill Clark officiating. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. in the funeral home.
Karen was born November 5, 1942 in Chicago, the only child of Anthony and Marie (Younkus) Lukas.
Karen married Martin Grzesiak. Together they had 5 children, Andrew (Iryna) Grzesiak of Elmwood Park, Connie (John) Wakefield of Oakland, Arkansas, Lewis Grzesiak of Alsip, Martha Grzesiak (Deceased) and Stanley Grzesiak of Georgia. She later married David Marsink
During her working years Karen became an Avon lady, a pharmacy technician, a Boy Scouts of America and a Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts leader, a distributor of Watkins products, Mendota Area Red Cross Secretary and a PTA newsletter editor. She wasan avid reader and a member of the Mendota Book Club and Mendota Garden Club and volunteered for Mendota Hospital auxiliary. She was the church secretary for Zion United Methodist Church in Mendota from 1990 until retiring in 2016.
Karen is survived by four of her five children, her husband John Ellis of Mendota, grandkids Melissa Grzesiak, Matthew Grzesiak, Matthew Wakefield, James Wakefield, Megan Quarles, Danielle Quarles, James Quarles and Bogdan Brezden, Olha Brezden and great grandchildren Chris Trinidad, Oliver Nott and Parker Grzesiak.
She was preceded in death by her first two husbands, her parents, grandparents, her daughter Martha Grzesiak and her favorite Aunt Patricia Guzik.
In lieu of flowers, Karen's wishes were to consider making a donation to Graves-Hume Public Library Mendota or Illinois Valley Animal Rescue.
To Karen's Family, My over feeds neighbor, will always be missed. We share many good times together. My Family was sudden to hear this news. Your mother will always be remembered. My deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the whole family!
Grace Nowaczyk
March 19, 2022
Karen was a fine church secretary, always displaying a pleasant personality.
Dena Lowe
March 19, 2022 | Amboy, IL | Friend
Karen and I became friends through Garden Club, then later through the Book Club. Karen was later a client of mine when I worked at A.G.Edwards. She always had a smile and was very bright. She had much to offer any situation and will be missed.
Linda Byrd
March 18, 2022 | Mendota, IL | Friend
