Obituary of Mary Jo Ellis

Mary Jo (Born) Ellis, age 87, of Burnsville, MN passed away on March 20, 2024.  

Mary was born in Minneapolis on February 7, 1937, the middle child of 3 girls.  She graduated from St. Margaret’s Academy and attended the College of St. Catherine as an Art major.  She left college to marry Gerald Ellis, her husband of 40 years until his passing.  Together, they built a house in Burnsville and raised 5 children.  The house served as a hub for the family where she remained for 60 years before moving into assisted living.   

Mary Jo had various clerical jobs, most notably in the airline industry.  She worked for a time at Eastern Airlines and retired from a publishing position at Northwest Airlines in 2001.   

Mary Jo’s passions were arts & crafts, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.  Her husband, Jerry, built a sewing room in their house where she would make stuffed animals, pinecone wreaths and many other handiworks.  She and Jerry traveled extensively around the country and abroad.  In retirement she would have lunch every quarter with a group of high school friends.  She made regular winter sojourns to Florida where her son lives.   

Mary Jo will be remembered for her laughter and neighborliness, her crossword puzzle skills and love of hedgehogs.  She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.   

Preceded in death by husband, Gerald; parents, Norman and Helen Born; and sister, Patricia Dornfeld.  

Survived by sons, Patrick, Andrew, David; daughters, Aimee (Raymond) Eck, Jennifer Svendahl; grandchildren, Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Emily; sister, Margaret Born; and great-grandchild, Henrik.   

Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in private family ceremony.