Sharon Marie Ello

Sharon Marie (Smith) Ello, 69, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away in loving presence of her children on August 28, 2016 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Born June 28 in Toledo to Helen (Williams) and Harley Smith, Sharon was the youngest child in a loving family filled with music, dancing, and laughter. She graduated from Libby High School and continued her education while on full scholarship at the University of Toledo. During her studies at UT, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. Through these associations, she met the love of her life, George, on a blind date. She graduated summa cum laude in 1970 with a BA in education and went on to marry George and raise four children while also teaching at Sylvania City Schools for over 20 years. During this time, she completed her master’s in education in 1997 from UT and also received numerous awards for her efforts as an educator, including a Jennings Scholarship from BGSU and a three-time Educator of the Year nominee for Sylvania Schools. Music was a passion in Sharons life. Not only was she an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, but as a young woman, she sang in numerous groups and, as rumor would have it, once entertained a contract with Motown Records. Later in life, Sharon directed choirs at both St. Hermans Orthodox Church of America in Colorado and St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Sylvania. She also enjoyed singing at Wildwood Manor House during the holiday season. Sharon enjoyed traveling the world with family and friends—from taking cooking classes in Italy to cruising down the Baja Peninsula with friends, she always looked forward to her next adventure and lived life to the fullest. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, as well as her sister-in-law, Judy Smith. She is survived by her children, Nicholas of Swanton, Aleksandra (JP Fellows) of Seattle, WA, Natasha (Boyd Rose) of Sylvania and Alexei (Kerriann Burt) of Columbus; her grandchildren Alexa and Archer, all of whom she deeply loved. Sharon is also survived by her brother Dennis Smith of Anna, TX and Linda Earl (Ken) of Sterling Heights, Michigan, brother-in-law Frank (Eileen) and sister-in-law Margaret Ello, as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be on Friday, September 2 at Walker Funeral Home (5155 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43623) from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 9pm, with Trisagion Prayers at 7pm. Final respects may be paid on Saturday, September 3 at 10am at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church (4940 Harroun Rd, Sylvania, OH 43560) with funeral service starting at 11am. Interment to follow at Toledo Memorial Park with Mercy Meal afterwards at St. Elias. Sharon was a courageous survivor of melanoma and fighter of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She was diagnosed with AML the first time nearly three years ago, when she battled her way to remission through numerous rounds of intense chemotherapy and multiple long hospitalizations, all while keeping a positive outlook and humorous attitude. She successfully received a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor in Germany in 2014 and fought to overcome every obstacle she encountered on her way to recovery. The transplant led to an ongoing joke that she should be able to speak German as a result and gave us Sharon an additional two and half years that we will treasure. She and her family are forever grateful for this gift of life and time presented by her doctors, nurses, and staffs at the University of Michigan, the Toledo Hospital, the Toledo Clinic, ProMedica Homecare, Central Park West Rehabilitation, Ebeid Hospice, as well as her anonymous donor. We ask that you consider registering to be a donor and, in lieu of flowers, make donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Sharon’s name, or to her spiritual home St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com. Memory Eternal.