Ellen Jo Hein

Born December 28, 1950 in DeKalb IL; Died May 1, 2023 in DeKalb IL

Ellen Hein, age 72, passed away Thursday, May 1 at home. She was born December 28, 1950 to Dorothy and David Prober at DeKalb Public Hospital. She was the second of four daughters. She was a 1969 graduate of DeKalb High School and continued her education at Southern Illinois University. She married Mark Hein on May 17, 1975 and they made their life in DeKalb. They had two children. Ellen was a devoted wife and mother and fit her work life around her family so she could be home with her children when they got home from school. She was president of the PTA, served as room mother and was awarded the Friend of Education award twice by the DeKalb Classroom Teacher's Association. She worked at Brody Manufacturing, DeKalb Iron and Metal Company, Kishwaukee YMCA and 4-C. Ellen retired in 2007. Upon retirement, she volunteered at CASA DeKalb County and she was a regular blood donor. Ellen's joys in life were her family, her friends, shopping, and chocolate. She had a fantastic sense of humor and she always made her family, friends and even strangers laugh. She had a positive outlook on life and she was her grandchildren's biggest fan.

She is survived by her husband Mark; her daughter Michelle (Jeff) Gomberg; her son John (Courtney) Hein; her grandchildren Ethan and Lincoln Hein and Leah, Annabelle and Miles Gomberg; her sisters Lea (Jeff) Gorman, Rita (Bill) Hutchins and Ann Azzouz; her sister-in-law Missy Wolf; her sisters by marriage, Elynne (Richard) Aleskow, Linda (Alan) Harris and Susan Chaplik; her aunt Josie (Richard) Grant; and many nieces and nephews and great-nephews, a great niece and many cousins. She is preceded in her death by her parents, her grandparents, her mother-in-law, her father-in-law, her brother-in-law and her stepmother.

The family would like to thank the outstanding nursing staff at UW Madison Hospital, the staff at Kishwaukee Hospital Cancer Center, her oncologist, Dr. Bayer and her primary care physician, Dr. Thakkar.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 4 at 1 pm and the funeral service will follow at 2 pm. Both will be held at Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak Street, DeKalb. Post funeral gathering at the Hein house following the service until 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CASA DeKalb County ( https://casadekalb.org ) or University of Wisconsin School of Medicine ( www.wiscmedicine.org )

Arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL 60115 815-758-3841.