Eila E. Donnellan

Funeral service for Eila Ellen Donnellan, 86, of Duluth, formerly of Biwabik, will be 10:30am Friday, April 8, 2016 at the Community United Church of Christ in Biwabik with Pastor John Szarke officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik, MN. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Community United Church in Biwabik, First Lutheran Church in Duluth or Alzheimer’s Association. Eila died Monday, April 4, 2016 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Duluth, MN surrounded by her children after a long struggle with Alzheimers. She was born February 15, 1930 in Virginia, MN and moved to Biwabik in 1938. She was a graduate of Horace Mann High School and later attended Hursh Business College in Duluth. She was employed for 3 ½ years at the State Bank of Virginia before her marriage to Stephen W. Donnellan on August 15, 1952. They lived in Baltimore, MD for two years during the Korean War and returned to Biwabik to raise their family. She was employed by Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp. and the Biwabik State Bank. Eila was a 70+year member of the Biwabik Community Church where she served as treasurer, Sunday School instructor and pasty making. She enjoyed traveling; especially to Ireland, England and Germany. Other pass times include attending hockey games and time spent at the cabin on Lake Vermilion. She remained in Biwabik for 16 years after her husband’s death and moved to Duluth in 2005. Eila is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Donnellan Licari of Duluth; sons: John P. (Sandra Boyle) Donnellan of Houston, TX and Thomas S. (Judy) Donnellan of Duluth; grandchildren: Matthew (Addie) Licari, Nicholas (Tammy) Licari and Kianna Donnellan all of Duluth; great grandchildren: Cole, Ryan, Graeme, Isaac, Ellie and Henry; Judy’s children: Luke and Whitney Morgan; God-son, Jerry Newton; former daughter-in-law, Sue Valentine; former son-in-law, Steve Licari. She is preceded in death by her father, Henry Laine; step-father, Jacob E. Arentti; mother, Fannie Laine Arentti; beloved husband, Stephen W. Donnellan