Ellen Carol Jacke

Ellen C. Jacke (98) died in her home in Masonicare at Ashlar Village in Wallingford, CT early Saturday morning, June 1, 2024 surrounded by her children and listening to her favorite hymns.



Born Ellen Carol Van Deusen in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 9, 1926, she grew up in Mountain Lakes, NJ where she attended the Wilson School. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1947 earning her tuition by working in a WWII munitions factory. Recruited by Smith Barney and Company, Ellen became the first woman trainee on Wall Street. The announcement of her breaking into the male dominated financial system made national news. She met and married her husband, Stanley E. Jacke, in August 1949 and moved to Indiana where she received her MA in Economics at Purdue University, while Stan finished his undergrad on the GI bill.



Ellen became a full-time mom to five children born in Indiana, Michigan, and New York as Stan's inventions and business endeavors moved them about the country. They finally landed in Ridgefield, CT where they spent 20 years as the kids grew up. As empty nesters, Ellen and Stan moved to Malvern, PA in 1980. In each new town she built community by joining the local church and often singing in the choir and teaching bible school. With her adventurous spirit she engaged in everything from leading Girl Scout trips to Europe, building stone walls and kitchen tables, skippering the family sailboat to Block Island and beyond, expressing her views at Town meetings, studying for a second masters in Counseling, and establishing The Counseling Center in Danbury CT, to support women re-entering the workforce after being full-time homemakers.



Inspired by their love of and history on Block Island (Ellen's mother, Margaret M. Barlow, was born there in Bit O' Heaven on Barlow's point in 1886), Stan and Ellen designed and built their summer home on Coast Guard Rd in 1986. It became a place of gathering, shared meals, and memories for extended family and friends for over 30 years. Ellen brought her positivity, love of life, and voracious smile to everyone and everything including supporting CROP Walks, practicing yoga, making coleslaw for Harbor church events, supporting affordable housing, and dancing at the Blues on the Block.

When Stan died in 1999, the same year they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Ellen moved to North Kingstown, RI so it was easy to spend summers on Block Island through 2017. Active once again in the local churches, she became a certified lay speaker for the United Methodist Church and preached, joined Bible studies, and always offered love, hugs, and valuable insights.

Ellen moved to the Masonicare at Ashlar Village retirement community in 2012 and brought her enthusiasm, joy, and capacity to speak her mind to everyone and everything. She created church community at both Yalesville United Methodist and the Wallingford First Congregational service at Ashlar Village. Monday dinners in the Meadow Wood 3rd Floor community room helped many survive the isolation of the pandemic. She took part in writing classes, led workshops, swam at Gaylord, exercised, and was on the front cover of an Ashlar advertising campaign. She continued to love to dance and brought her voracious smile and love of life to dressing up as Shirley Temple in Vinny's shows and dance-swirling in her Jazzy motorized chair. She continued to sing and made a joyful noise in the Yalesville United Methodist church choir and the Ashlar Village Chorus. Jumping out of an airplane at age 89 was a big bucket list item, her favorite memory, and made Ashlar Village news.



She is survived by her children Doug A. Jacke (Kim), Karen E. Jacke, Susan J. Littlefield, Pete V. Jacke (Anna) and David K. Jacke; 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren with 2 on the way. Ellen was predeceased by her husband Stanley E. Jacke and grandson, Stuart J. Littlefield.



A celebration of life will take place on Thursday June 27 at 1:30 pm o'clock in the Hartog Activity Building Auditorium, Masonicare at Ashlar Village. The entrance to Ashlar village is at 74 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492. Front Desk phone is 203-679-6408



A graveside service will be held on Block Island in spring of 2025.



Contributions in Ellen's honor can be made to:

The Nature Conservancy- Block Island Program PO Box 1287 Block Island, RI 02807

South County Habitat for Humanity http://www.southcountyhabitat.org/