Elaine M. (Josephs) Quella

Heaven has a new angel.  Elaine, age 96, joined her husband, Rich, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.  Mom passed peacefully at home, surrounded  by family.  She was born November 11, 1925 in Appleton, WI to the late John and Mary (Behling) Josephs.  Elaine met the "love of her life,” via letter writing during World War II and was united in marriage to Richard H. Quella on April 16, 1947.  Richard preceded her in death on July 23, 2002.

Mom will be remembered as a kind, generous, loving, and amazing woman.  We were BLESSED to have her as our Mom.  She always started her day with "Good Morning Sunshine," even after ending up in a wheelchair 12 years ago.  From her youth until her stroke, she enjoyed biking, swimming, (she was proud of earning her letter "K" in Kimberly High School basketball), gardening, growing beautiful house plants, quilting, needlepoint, cross stitching, grapevine wreath making, reading (especially Popular Science and Readers Digest), canning (thousands of jars of tomatoes, pickles, jelly, etc.) cooking and baking delicious foods and sharing her knowledge with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  We will never forget Mom's ability to call us home with her two fingered whistle, which we could hear even a mile away.  Family was Mom's life purpose. She served amazing meals every day.  No matter our age, she let us know when our favorite meal or dessert would be on the menu, so we could stop in.  Her home was always open to guests and to children and grandchildren who needed a place to live for a time.  

Mom also enjoyed working alongside Dad in the family business, entertaining, going out to eat with friends, traveling, golfing, and bowling.  When Dad got sick, Mom was his devoted caregiver.  She was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.  Shortly after her stroke, Mom moved to Cambridge, MN to live with her daughter and son-in-law.  While the stroke certainly slowed her down physically, she stayed very active.  Mom's memory never failed. Even on the day of her death, she made sure she had spoken to each of her living children to express her love and to bless them before slipping away.  Above all else, what Mom wanted to be remembered for is that she cared for and loved her husband Rich, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Elaine is survived by her children:  Kathleen (Robert) Dolezal, Christine Eisch, Rebecca (Denis Van Zeeland) Van Heuklon, Richard (Erin) Quella, Nancy (Dan) Christenson, Gail (Jim Blumreich) Wians.  

Grandchildren:  Katrina (Hans), Maryrose (Roya), Theresa (Kerry); Colleen (Tim), James (Tina), Jeremy (Catherine), Joseph (Vickie); Stephanie (Harvey), Michael (Heidi), Stacy (Shane), Shari (Kyle); Kerri (Andrew), Kelly (Shane); Holli (Tony), Heidi (Jeff), Ryan (Melanie), Robyn (Amber); Jacque (Bruce), Katie (Justin), Andy (Sarah), Zach (Tarra); Amanda (Bob), Jessica (Andy), Angela (Adam)

Great-Grandchildren:  Kathrine, Johnathan, Robert, Matthew, Espen; John, Taylor, Diego, Eliana, Cassandra; Camden, Leon; Portia, Tiana, Marshall, Maverik, Paxton; Landon, Ilaria, Alessia, Rylee, Lillian, Charlotte, Theodore; Mackenzie, Jacob, Mairead, Diarmuid, Adalaide, Vada, Mae, Isla, Eden, Owen, Sloane, Ryland; Madison, Ty, Piper, Caiden.  Great-Great Grandchild: Xander. 

Sister-in-law, Margaret Kangas.

She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Quella, and son-in-law, James Eisch in 2016.  Also her siblings: Gene (June), Donald (Charlotte), Blanche (Harry), Margaret (John), Evelyn (Les), Celeste (Cliff), Rita (Carl), Ray (Doris).

Mom will be deeply missed, always loved and forever in our hearts.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM, Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church, 222 E. Fremont St, Appleton, WI.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. 

A special thank you to Kathy and Bob Dolezal and family for taking care of Mom for the past 12 years, after her stroke.  Words could never express our gratitude for their selfless act of love for Mom.

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