Ellen Rees

Ellen Rees, 83, of Indianapolis, IN, formerly of Jasper, IN, and Robinson, IL, passed away on March 28, 2026, at Hooverwood Living in Indianapolis.

Born on October 29, 1942, in Jasper, she grew up there and graduated from Jasper High School in 1960. On October 20, 1962, she married Donald Louis "Butch" Rees, and from that day forward, the two of them built a life together that was full of love and a healthy dose of fun. They shared a playful streak and loved making each other laugh, and that joy filled their home. It was a home where her own family flourished, but also one where others were always welcome. When her boys were younger, Ellen watched other children until their parents got off work, turning ordinary afternoons into something steady and dependable for the families who counted on her. Her love of children eventually led her to begin working for Robinson schools in the mid-1980s. Whether she was at Washington Grade School, Lincoln Grade School, Nuttall Middle School, or Robinson High School, whether in the lunchroom or the office, Ellen simply loved being around the kids. She cherished them, and they gave her another community to belong to. By the time she retired in 2012, she had spent years doing what came most naturally to her: making people feel seen and cared for.

That same gift was on display for 49 years through The Trophy Room, where Ellen helped commemorate life's victories, big and small, and became part of countless meaningful memories along the way. But for all the memories she helped others celebrate, some of the sweetest were the ones she made with her own family. She had a way of making time together feel special. Holiday World was a longtime summer tradition, and later, Lake Rudolph became a beloved gathering place where, year after year, she helped create the kind of moments that stay with people for life. And because Ellen knew how quickly even the best moments can slip away, she rarely let them pass unrecorded. More often than not, she had her camcorder in hand (or most recently, her iPad), capturing the togetherness she worked so hard to create. What she left behind was more than footage. It was a gift to her family, a way of holding onto moments that might otherwise have been lost to time.

What made Ellen so special wasn't just the way she treasured the big moments. It was the way she loved the small ones, too. She found real happiness in life's simpler joys: walking around Washington Park and the Robinson High School Track, tending her flower garden with what seemed like a green thumb for anything she planted, and watching the fish in her pond grow far bigger than they had any right to be.

But more than any of those things, she loved Christmas. On her Facebook bio were the words, "I LOVE Christmas, my favorite time of year!" And anyone who knew her knew that was no exaggeration. Every year, she hauled more than forty boxes of decorations down from the attic and carefully set each piece in its proper place. She was meticulous, joyful, and completely in her element. For a time, she was even part of the Christmas Decoration Committee. She was involved with a number of other organizations as well, including Psi Iota Xi in Jasper, Beta Sigma Phi in Robinson, and the Crawford County 100 Women Who Care.

For all the joy Ellen found in community life, the deepest source of her strength was her faith. As a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Robinson, she held fast to God in a quiet, sincere way. Her faith wasn't a small part of her story. It was the thread that held the whole thing together: the quiet strength beneath her joy, the steady ground beneath her grief, and the light she carried into every season of her life. And just because we can't see that light now doesn't mean it has been put out. We know that in Christ, Ellen has gone from the flickering shadows of this world into the fullness of everlasting light.

She is survived by her son, Michael Scott Rees of Boonville, IN; by her daughter, Mindy (David) Krol of Indianapolis, IN; by her grandchildren, Stephanie (Zach) Presson, Shannon (Michael) Ross, Susan (Maddie) Wilson, Mark Rees, Jr., Mallory Rees, Marissa (John) Richards, Nora Krol, June Krol, and Sage Krol; and by her great-grandchildren, Rees Presson, Luke Presson, Sam Presson, and Missy Ross (with two more on the way). She is also survived by her brothers, Gene (Rose) Berger of Davidson, NC, and Paul Berger of Indianapolis, IN, and by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-one years, Donald Louis "Butch" Rees, who passed away on May 21, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Linda "Missy" Rees; her parents, Arnold and Loretta (Dudine) Berger; her sister, Mary Agnes Berger; and her brother, Glen Berger.

A time of visitation will be held from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, April 6th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson, IL. In honor of her love of Christmas, attendees are invited to wear holiday-themed apparel to the visitation. Or, in memory of her love of the color, attendees may also wear something red. Another time of visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, April 7th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, IN, and a funeral mass officiated by Fr. John Brosmer will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Jasper. Memorial contributions may be made to either the NOW Program or to masses, which will be read in her name at both churches. Memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church.