Ellen J. Gibney

Ellen Jane Dunleavy Gibney passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Ohio Living Swan Creek. The daughter of John and Amanda Dunleavy, Ellen was born in Waterloo, IA in 1934, two years before John and Amanda purchased and moved to the family dairy farm in Denver, IA. Ellen Jane’s nephew still operates the farm nearly 90 years later. One of Ellen’s jobs growing up was gathering eggs from the henhouse, which led her to decide to leave farming operations to her brother and move on to a career in education.

She began her studies at the University of Northern Iowa and completed them at the University of Toledo, ultimately obtaining Bachelor of Education, Master of Education and Specialist in Education degrees. She taught 32 years in elementary schools in Belle Plaine, IA and Toledo, OH, including nearly 30 years as a fourth-grade teacher at McKinley School in Toledo.

Ellen met her husband Tom, who also came from an Iowa farm, at the Belle Plaine school where he was the principal. After marriage, they moved to Iowa City, where their son Thomas John was born, and her husband Tom obtained his PhD. The family then moved to Highland Park IL, and then to Toledo, OH in 1964.

Ellen retired from active teaching in 1997, the year her grandson Thomas Connor was born. Ellen was a constant presence in Connor’s life often being the one to greet and care for him when he came home from school.

Ellen has maintained membership at Gesu Catholic Church since 1964, and resided in Old Orchard on Drummond Rd. for 55 years.

Family activities, playing piano, reading and working in the yard were her favorite pastimes. She was proud of her Irish heritage. Her father was born in Ireland and she enjoyed several trips there with him and her family to visit Irish relatives. Most years, however, Ellen Jane’s vacations were comprised of multiple trips to Iowa to visit the farms and spend time with her relatives.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Ellen Jane will be missed by those who knew her. Ellen would like to be remembered as an effective and caring teacher for the many children who entered her classroom. Her work ethic was an inspiration to her family.

Ellen is preceded by her husband, Tom, of 63 years, her brother Robert, her sister-in-law Marian, her brother-in-law Edward, and her sister-in-law Rosemary. She is survived by her son Tom (Carrie), grandson Connor; sister-in-law Janie and numerous nephews and nieces, several of whom followed Ellen’s lead and pursued careers in education.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at Gesu Catholic Church on Friday, June, 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour visitation at the church preceding the mass. Interment will be private at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

Ellen’s family thanks Ohio Living Swan Creek for its care of Ellen and Tom since 2019.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas and Ellen Gibney College of Education Scholarship Fund at the University of Toledo Foundation, 4510 Dorr St. MS#820 Toledo, OH 43615-4040 or Gesu Church, 2049 Parkside Bivd. Toledo, OH 43607. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.