Ellen Blemker Thomas

Ellen Blemker Thomas of Pepper Pike, OH, passed away peacefully at home on May 29, 2026. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a friend to many. Ellen will always be remembered by those who knew her for her engaging smile, grace, kindness, generous spirit, spunk & patience. Her high school yearbook editors aptly chose a quote for Ellen’s senior page that held true through her life: “Smiling Always, With a Never Fading Serenity of Countenance” (Isaac Barrow).

Ellen was born on April 19, 1940. She grew up in Ft. Mitchell, KY, outside of Cincinnati, OH. She attended Miss Doherty’s CPSG (now Seven Hills) School and graduated from Garland College (now Simmons) in Boston. Upon graduating, she remained in Boston to teach nursery school for several years.

Returning home to Cincinnati for a party her sister was hosting, Ellen met Joe Thomas, the love of her life. They were married in 1963 and remained in Cincinnati until Joe’s longtime employer, McDonald & Company, promoted him to the Cleveland office in late 1964. Joe & Ellen quickly settled into Shaker Heights, where they raised both daughters, and made the Cleveland community their permanent home. 

Following in her mother’s example, music & volunteering were always a major part of Ellen’s life. Upon arriving in Cleveland, she immediately joined the Junior League and sang for years with the "Liltin’ Leaguers”, an a cappella group that entertained in hospitals and nursing homes throughout the community. She also sang with Christ Episcopal Church choir. She volunteered at St Luke’s Hospital for over 20 years, managing the store there. When her daughters attended Hathaway Brown School, Ellen co-founded (and named) the school store, ‘The Brown Bag’, still in existence today. She also devoted much of her time volunteering as a member of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and with the Women’s Committee of the Cleveland Orchestra. Later in life, Ellen joined The Children’s Guild, creating crafts and necklaces to raise money for organizations improving the lives of children in Greater Cleveland. 

Though Ellen faced lifelong health challenges, she met them with courage, grace and quiet determination, always maintaining her positive outlook. She developed epilepsy after a fall as a young child. At age 55, she bravely underwent life changing elective brain surgery at The Cleveland Clinic and was thereafter seizure free the remainder of her life.

Ellen is preceded in death by her parents, John Wescott Blemker & Page McBurney Blemker Smith and her sister, Nancy Page Blemker Yeaw. 

Ellen is survived by Joe, her loving husband of 63 years; their two daughters and their families, Ginny (Hans) of Bethesda, MD and Betsy (Don) of Columbus, OH; her brother Ben (Ann) of Cincinnati, OH; her grandchildren Dan (Stephanie), Anna & Tim Leathery and Hans & Isabelle Wydler; and great grandson John Leathery. 

Friends and family are invited to dress in bright colors and celebrate Ellen’s life on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 2 pm to 5 pm at The Country Club, 2825 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to either Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, PO Box 931517 Cleveland, OH 44193 or to The Children’s Guild, PO Box 104, Novelty, OH 44072.