Eldora M. Ozanne

Eldora M. Ozanne died in Milford, Connecticut February 17, 2011 after a long illness. Eldora was born December 10, 1924 in Evansville, Wisconsin to Edward William and Selma Marquette, nee Gullickson. She was the fourth of six children. The family moved to Rockford, Illinois when she was six 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 on August 16, 1943 in Alameda, California just before he left to go overseas for WWII 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 started 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. She is survived by her son, Dr. Marq R. Ozanne and his wife Vivian; her three grandchildren, Gayle, Marie and Edward (all of Connecticut); her sister, Erma Lizer of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; her brother, Vernon (Peggy) Marquette of Alton, Missouri; and sister-in-law, Alice Valeo of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is predeceased by her husband, Donald Ozanne; her parents; sisters, Virginia Roop and Veousha Dunseth, and her brother, Edward Marquitz. Funeral Mass at 10 am on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave. with a 1 hour visitation prior to Mass. Also a visitation 5-7:30 pm on Friday, February 25, 2011 in Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Ozanne Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rockford College. Tributes to the family at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com