Ellen Zwicky Cook

Ellen Zwicky Cook was born in Genoa, Italy on June 4, 1927 to Emil Zwicky and Linea (Kiefer) Zwicky. She lived there until she was about two years old and then moved with her family back to Elmhurst, IL, where she grew up. Her father was export manager for Swift and Company.

Her parents and her beloved husband, Herman preceded her in death. Also, her brother, 1st Lt. Alfred O. Zwicky preceded her in death during WWII combat. Ellen and Herman met at North Central College in Naperville, IL after Herman served in the Army Air Force in World War II. After graduating from college, Ellen was the first local graduate from Elmhurst to be hired by the Elmhurst School District with no prior experience as a teacher. Ellen and Herman were married in Elmhurst on July 28, 1951. Their first church was in Wood Dale, IL, where they served for eleven years. She and Herman moved to Dallas, TX in 1971. Ellen taught in the Carrollton/Farmer Branch School District. At the time of her retirement in 1986, she was the Social Studies Department Head for Newman Smith High School.

Ellen and Herman moved to Holiday Island in 1988. Ellen was the "Welcome Lady" from 1989 until 2002. On March 11, 1993, Ellen and Herman met with a group of Holiday Island residents who were hungry to hear the word of God and requested that they lead in establishing a new church. This was the beginning of the Holiday Island Community Church. Ellen was the Director of Music, and in recent years she was the organist. Ellen and Herman believed that man's hands cannot make a place for God. The church is really the people who belong to the family of God and God's children will experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give.

The memorial service will be Saturday, June 27 at 2 p.m. at Holiday Island Community Church. Memorials may be given to the Holiday Island Community Church Building Fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.