Ella Jo Callahan, Abilene
August 30, 1932 - July 11, 2021
Ella Jo Callahan Obituary - Abilene, KS | Danner Funeral Home (martinbeckercarlson.com)
Ella JoAnn (McMahon) Callahan passed away July 1h, 2021 in Abilene, KS with her daughter holding her hand.
EllaJo was born August 30, 1932 in Falls City NE to Patrick and Marcella (Coyne) McMahon. She grew up in Falls City. The family moved to Abilene when EllaJo was a sophomore in high school. She graduated from AHS in 1950 and continued her education and graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas in 1954 with an education degree.
She was united in marriage to Garold K Callahan on June 12, 1954 and they had two children and were later divorced.
EllaJo taught kindergarten in Abilene for over 35 years and retired from teaching in 1997. She loved her “babies” and gave so many children a wonderful start in their education.
Family and her Catholic faith were the two most important things to her. She always said she was blessed to have such a large, extended family that was close and loved each other so much.
She was an avid volunteer through the years helping at Enterprise Estates, Dickinson County Historical Society and Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. She was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella and Retired Teachers Association.
EllaJo is survived by her daughter Theresa (Danny Hern) of Abilene; sister Marcella McMahon, Abilene; brother Patrick McMahon, Jr., Hutchinson KS, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by grandchildren Chad, Jacine, Jordan, and Bailee Hern of Smithville, MO and Sierra Hern, Boyd, Braven and Saylor Hatfield of Salina KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son Patrick Callahan; sister Mary Neerman and brother-in-law Charles Neerman; sister Marjorie Caldarulo and brother-In-law Dominick Caldarulo. sister-in-law Carolyn McMahon; niece Joann (Caldarulo) Link; nephew Eric Hammerschmidt; and infant nieces Cassandra Link and Bridgette Kentopp.
ElleJo’s wishes were for everyone to dress casually for her service.
Mass of Christian Burial for EllaJo will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 15, 2021 at the St. Andrew Catholic Church in Abilene with Father Peter O’Donnell as celebrant. Her final resting place will be in the Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery. A D of I rosary will be 6:00 p.m. Wednesdayat the funeral home with the family receiving friends following.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Andrew Catholic Church or the Avondale House School of Autism and may be sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home, 501 N. Buckeye, Abilene, Kansas 67410.