Ellen Nichols Wright

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Ellen Nichols Wright, on October 7, 2025. Ellen was a loving, compassionate and generous mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family was her pride and joy.  

Ellen was born in Athens, Ohio on April 22, 1929. She was the second child born to P.O. and Florence Carr Nichols. After high school, she attended Ohio University in Athens where she met John Sheldon Wright. They were married on March 24, 1951, in the home of her parents.  

Their adventure began with John going to Japan as part of his military service during the Korean War. Ellen followed, living in Tokyo until the end of the war. Upon their return, they moved frequently due to John's career in sales, never spending two Christmases in the same house for the first 10 years of marriage.  

Shortly after moving to Alabama, John died in a private plane crash on November 16, 1967, leaving Ellen to raise their five children alone. Her dedication, strength and grace in rearing her children was extraordinary.  

Ellen moved her family to Barrington, Illinois in 1969, where they had previously lived. It was then that she returned to school to complete her degree in Elementary Education. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1973, and began her teaching career. After teaching for several years, she went to work at a local newspaper in the advertising department. She left her career to spend the last 7 years of her parents’ lives caring for them in her home.  

In 1996, she moved from Barrington to Kaukauna, Wisconsin to be closer to her children and grandchildren. In 2017, after her health declined, she moved to Gurnee, Illinois to live with her youngest daughter, Robin and her family.

Ellen had a servant's heart and a passion for helping others. She was always active in her church, volunteered at local elementary schools and was well-known for her exceptional baking skills. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She leaves behind four children: David (Ellen) Wright of Appleton, WI, Jane (Matthew) Ketterer of Hubertus, WI, Suzanne (Mark) Driscoll of Port Charlotte, FL, and Robin (Steve) Wantoch of Gurnee, IL. In addition, she has 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren whom she adored. She was  preceded in death by her husband, John Sheldon Wright, her son, John Bradley Wright, and her brother, David Nichols.  

The Wright, Ketterer and Driscoll families would like to thank the Wantoch family (Robin, Steve, Jacob and Megan) for their selflessness and exceptional care and kindness that they provided to Mom in her final years.  

A celebration of life will be held at Gurnee Community Church, 4555 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Visitation will be from 10:30am to 11:00am with a service immediately following. Pastor Ryan Miller will be officiating. Private interment will take place in Youngstown, Ohio at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Dyslexia Foundation ( http://dyslexiafoundation.org ).

Arrangements entrusted to Sambrano Funeral & Cremation, 4606 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee, IL. Please sign the guestbook at LauraSambranoFunerals.com; for information, please call 847-571-7719.

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