Edith A. Ellwood, 84, of Rushville died July 19, 2009, at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb. She was a recent resident of Bickford Cottage in Macomb.Edith A. Ellwood, 84, of Rushville died July 19, 2009, at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb. She was a recent resident of Bickford Cottage in Macomb.
She was born April 2, 1925, in Vienna, Mo., the daughter of Walter and Jesse McKeever Briggs. She married Walter Ellwood on June 11, 1949, in Fulton, Mo. He died Oct. 14, 2000.
She also was preceded in death by four brothers, Quentin, Bob, Bill and Joe Briggs.
Surviving are five daughters, Pat (and Dan) Kinsell of Chapin, Mary (and Chuck) Downs of Normal, Barb (and Jim) Kerr of Rushville, Colleen (and Neil) Settles of Jacksonville and Brenda (and Mike) Smith of Macomb; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She learned to care for injuries her brothers incurred and had an understanding of people, that brought her to the Army Cadet Nursing Program at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Quincy. After graduation, she worked as a registered nurse in various areas.
In 1981, she earned her bachelors degree from Western Illinois University.
She served as district nurse for Schuyler County Schools, and taught health occupation classes at Rushville High School from 1967-1992.
She assisted as a volunteer with the Cass-Schuyler Hospice program and American Heart Association.
She was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at her church in Rushville with Monsignor Richard Pricco officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. tonight at Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville. Burial will be in Rushville City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice program or to her church.
Condolences may be sent to www.worthingtonfh.com.