Ella Goodrich

Goodrich, Ella Age 95, died August 3, 2008, in Ocean City, New Jersey. She was born in Milwaukee on July 2, 1913, to Karen and Christian Jacobsen. Her husband, Forrest Burton Goodrich, preceded her in death in 1976 of Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis). Her youngest daughter Laura Goodrich - Isenerg, M.D., died on March 12, 2006, in Ada, Oklahoma of cancer. She is survived by her oldest daughter, Emily Karen Schmit, of Oregon; her son, Robert Burton Goodrich and wife Cynthia Bender Goodrich of Ocean City. Other survivors are granddaughter Kara Nicole Schmidt and husband Todd Sisler of Maryland; grandson Ronald Burton of Virginia and Ada, Oklahoma; and great-grandson Taran Sisler of Maryland. Ella was president of the following organizations: Older Girls Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Hospital Auxiliary, Pekin Memorial Hospital, Illinois; Pekin Newcomer's Club, Illinois; Home and School Association, Naperville, Illinois; Peoria Area Stitchers' Guild, Illinois. She studied piano under John W. Schamm, noted Mid-West teacher and composer. She belonged to church choirs all her adult life. She has quite a collection of hats and presented programs on their history, modeling many, to the delight of her audience. She became known as "The Hat Lady". Visitation will be Friday, August 8, from 1:00-2:00 PM at Wisconsin Memorial Park's Chapel of the Flowers, 13235 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, Wisconsin, with services following at 2:00 PM. A memorial service will be scheduled at St. John Lutheran Church in Ocean City, New Jersey, upon return of the family from Wisconsin. Ring the bells wildly!! Memorial contributions may be made to either St. John Lutheran Church, Ocean City, New Jersey, or the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002-2755 (www.alsphiladelphia.org).