Ilene M. Ferguson

Ilene Veronica Meyer Ferguson was born on March 5, 1929 in Cliffside Park, New Jersey to Harry Meyer, Sr. and Anna Gormley Meyer. She and her two brothers, Jack and Harry Meyer, were raised on Nelson Avenue, where most of their close neighbors were their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Ilene graduated from Cliffside Park High School and attended the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

In 1949 she met James Richard “Jimmy” Ferguson who was in the neighborhood visiting his Aunt Jo, Ilene’s neighbor. When they met a second time at Epiphany Roman Catholic Church, they started dating and eventually eloped on September 3, 1949. Ilene and Jim chose to raise their four children on Nelson Avenue, as well. In addition to being an outstanding mother, Ilene was also an excellent seamstress. For many years she made recital costumes for hundreds of dance students at Miss Kathie’s Dance Studio, which was owned by her daughter. She also assisted her daughter in the business aspects of the studio.

On November 22, 1975, Ilene, Jim and three of their children took a family vacation to Walt Disney World, starting a long-time fascination and love for all things Disney. Over the next few years they made at least 20 visits to Disney World staying in the Golf Resort, Fort Wilderness, the Vacation Villas and most every type of accommodation available “on the grounds”. During one of those many visits, Ilene and Jim decided they would move to the Orlando area after Jim’s retirement.

In 1995, they sold their home on Nelson Avenue and moved to Kissimmee, Florida where both became employed by Disney World. Ilene’s favorite job was working at the Wonders of Life exhibit in EPCOT which she claimed stood for “Every Person Comes Out Tired”. Later she took on a position to train new cast members. In 2001, after many years of service, she received the Partners in Excellence award, one of the highest awards given to employees at Walt Disney World.

Ilene Ferguson was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Sarah Keane Gormley and John Joseph Gormley; her paternal grandparents, Charles Herman Meyer and Mary Veronica Jones Meyer; her parents and her husband. She is survived by two daughters, Katherine “Kathie” Ferguson Imperatore (George) and Jamie Ferguson Croake (Sean) and by her two sons, Gerald Paul “Jerry” Ferguson (Nancy) and Sean James Ferguson (Heidi). She is also survived by six grandchildren, Alexis Elizabeth Imperatore Hoschek (Rick), Cassandra Lynn “Cassie” Imperatore, James Ralph “Chip” Ferguson, Shayne Thomas Croake, Devin Sylvia Croake, and Natasha Ann Ferguson; and by one great-grandson, Ryan James Hoschek.

Visitation will be on Friday, October 18th from 5 to 8 pm at Grissom Funeral Home in Kissimmee. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 1 pm at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Kissimmee. Interment at Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery, Kissimmee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Grissom Funeral Home www.GrissomFH.com