Eleonore Christa-Luise ""Ellen"" Blommel

Eleonore Christa-Luise ""Ellen"" Blommel (née von Ostrowski) died peacefully in her sleep at her residence in The Village at Lowry at 2:45am on March 20, 2015 in Denver, Colo., at the age of 84. Eleonore is survived by her daughter Patricia B. Smith and son Eric J. Blommel, both of Denver, and siblings Winfried von Ostrowski, Christa Vahle, and Juergen von Ostrowski, all near Mannheim, Germany. She is preceded in death by her husband Leo F. Blommel of Freeport, Minn., sister Elisabeth Epting, of Markdorf, Germany, brother Rudolph von Ostrowski and their parents of Mannheim-Neckarau. Eleonore was born on August 31, 1930 in Mannheim-Neckarau, to Kurt and Dora (née Wagner of Leonberg) von Ostrowski. She had a 13-year career with German firm Eisen und Stahl Handel, GmbH, starting there as a switchboard operator and growing her career to sales and operations. She married Leo on Veterans Day 1961 in Mannheim. They met while he served as a post-war GI in Germany; he became a 33-year employee of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. She became a homemaker after moving to Waukegan, Ill., and later Zion, Ill., where they raised 2 children. Ellen and Leo were members of Our Lady of Humility Parish in Beach Park, Ill., and the local chapter of D.A.N.K. After Leo's passing, she became an American citizen in 1999, and moved to Denver in 2000 to be near her children. She was a member of the Windsor Gardens chapter of the Denver Symphony Guild. Viewing, Sunday, March 29, 2015 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver. Rosary, Monday, March 30, will begin at 9:30 am with a Funeral Mass to follow at 10 am, St. James Catholic Church, 1311 Oneida St., Denver. A light lunch reception will be held afterwards. Father Jose de Jesus Garcia will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate her life. The family asks that donations be made in Eleonore's name to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation online at http://www.alzfdn.org, Hospice of The Rockies, http://hospicecareoftherockies.com/donate, or Sewall Child Development Center: online credit card donations http://Sewall.org/Donate or by mail 1360 Vine Street, Denver, CO 80206.