Eleanor "Ellie" Nye

Eleanor “Ellie” Nye passed away on December 14, at 97.8 years of age. Most importantly, she brought three healthy children into this beautiful world and raised them in an environment of deep love and never-ending encouragement.

As a second job while in her 40s she started her own paper hanging business, once the kids got old enough to mostly take care of themselves. Many people in the Toledo area referred to her as the Wallpaper Lady. She hung paper on evenings and weekends while also working 40 hours per week at the glass factory, and after addressed any problems the kids were having. Ellie just had that special entrepreneurial spirit, and that zest to “try and make things better.” She had many satisfied customers, and new friends that she got to know as she papered their kitchen walls for a few hours …and everybody there just talked and shared their stories. The word of her special skills and personality got out, and she quickly ended up with way more interested customers that she could serve and had to turn away business.

When she was in her 30’s she was a devoted music lover and dancer, who always had a record console in the living room to spin her collection of 33s. Her children got to know her musical style quite well as it echoed throughout the small house she had built with my dad (and his brothers and friends). She loved the rich voices and song stories of Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves, and many others. But importantly she liked music that had a great dance groove. She taught herself how to perform all the popular ballroom dances of the time. Ellie could do the jitterbug, cha-cha, waltz and polka, and even learned to tango. On Friday and Saturday nights she would go out with her other single girlfriends to hear her favorite local bands play grooving tunes, and they would dance the night away. What a wonderful spirit she was. She said dancing kept her strong and young.

In her later adult years, she became a grandmother, and good lord …she exceled at handling that job too. Multiple, magical trips to Dollywood and Disney provided a deep joy to all those lucky enough to be there too.

Looking back now I am thoroughly impressed with how she packed up her three teenage kids into the car and took us to learn how to snow ski at various resorts in southern Michigan. She had never done it herself but had the drive to learn how to do new things like that, while in her 30s. Essentially, she taught us all about the Beauty of Winter. Love the snow. Play in it, she used to say. It was a wonderful gift to us all. It’s lasted a lifetime.

She is survived by her daughter, Maureen (Bruce) Prochal, son, Chris (Pam) Nye; granddaughter Lauren, nephews, Keith Kralik and Marty Kralik, and niece Kathy Kralik. She was preceded in death by her son, Ron Nye, and her brothers, Vincent Kralik and Frank Kralik.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Meigs Union Cemetery. Afterward there will also be a gathering at the house she built (including using a hammer and nails) with her ex-husband John. If you have any stories about your interaction with Ellie, please share them on the Walker Funeral Home website by visiting www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.